The Hellenic Post (ELTA) marks the centennial anniversary of the Academy of Athens with an impressive commemorative series issued on March 18, 2026. The release “100 Years Academy of Athens” consists of four postage stamps with a total face value of €4.90 and highlights some of the most emblematic artistic and architectural symbols of the institution. Through this series, ELTA pays tribute to Greece’s foremost scientific and cultural institution, which for a century has promoted the advancement of science, literature, and the fine arts.
The first stamp, with a face value of €0.50, features a detail from the oil painting Athena and Prometheus at the Heavenly Gates of Light (1884) by Christian Griepenkerl. The artwork decorates the west wall of the Academy’s grand conference hall and is photographed by K. Xenikakis for the Academy’s archives. The second stamp, valued at €1.20, depicts another detail from Griepenkerl’s monumental decoration - Prometheus Introduced to Olympus (1885), located on the south wall of the same hall. Both works present mythological scenes filled with drama and symbolism, emphasizing the connection between ancient Greek tradition and the Academy’s intellectual mission.
The third stamp, also valued at €1.20, shows a detail of the colossal marble statue of the goddess Athena, created in 1882 by Leonidas Drossis. The statue is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Academy and embodies wisdom, science, and the arts - values that the institution has upheld and developed for a hundred years. The fourth stamp, with a face value of €2.00, presents the main entrance of the Academy building, photographed from the southeast. The neoclassical architecture, inspired by ancient Greek prototypes, is among the most iconic buildings in Athens and symbolizes the continuity between classical philosophical heritage and modern scientific thought.
The stamps measure 35 × 45 mm and are issued in sheets of 25. They are printed in multicolored offset with gold‑foil stamping by “VERIDOS MATSOUKIS S.A. Security Printing.” Print quantities range from 20,000 to 30,000 pieces per denomination, making the series both accessible and valuable for collectors. The issue will remain available until March 17, 2028, at ELTA branches and through the Hellenic Post e‑shop.
In addition to the stamps, the series includes a First Day Cover printed in 3,000 copies and a numbered collector’s set of 300 pieces. The first day postmark can be obtained by sending philatelic items to the ELTA Sorting Center in Kryoneri, provided that stamps from the series with a minimum value of €1.20 are affixed.
With the release “100 Years Academy of Athens,” the Hellenic Post pays well‑deserved tribute to Greece’s most important scientific institution. Founded in 1926 and inspired by Plato’s Academy, it remains a leading center for research, cultural development, and intellectual exchange. The series elegantly combines fine art, architectural heritage, and philatelic craftsmanship, making it one of the most significant Greek issues of 2026.
