Hellenic Studies at CHS: Reflections from Yannis Stamos, Early Career Fellow in Hellenic Studies 2025–2026

As a CHS Early Career Fellow, I got to work on a project focused on the reception of antiquity. My project examines how the "New State," as the Metaxas regime (1936–1941) labeled itself, selectively appropriated aspects of Greek antiquity to construct its legitimizing narratives and self-image. Although the regime is typically associated in the literature with a fixation on the Hellenic past, references to hollow ancestor worship and a superficial mania for the past tend to gloss over the issue in broad brushstrokes. My project seeks to remedy this by exploring how the "New State" continued earlier Greek trends, while also adapting and localizing new ways of approaching the past drawn from the transnational context of its time. I argue that, much like the endeavors of the newly established Greek state in the 19th century, this hybrid mobilization of the past served to secure legitimacy for the political departure that the "New State" constituted in the present.

Delving into official propaganda, intellectual debates, and cultural products, I investigate how the dictatorship deployed multiple ancient models, i.e. Minoan Crete, classical Athens and Sparta, as well as the kingdom of Macedon, for complementary ideological purposes. The regime's treatment of these paradigms reveals its ambitious ideological work that involved not only incorporating contested peoples and polities into the genealogy of modern Hellenism, but also normalizing and naturalizing its own political experiments, which were partly "translated" from abroad. Minoan Crete allowed claims of civilizational primacy and origins, Sparta provided a clear model of militarization, discipline, collective sacrifice, and eugenics, while Macedonia represented national unification and outward-looking cultural influence. These cases often did not deviate drastically from the ways they had previously been conceptualized. Athens, however, required an unusual framing to downplay its typical identification with democracy and promote a link between Pericles' "strongman" authority and the city's cultural heyday.

The fellowship provided invaluable support for the pursuit of this project. For one, it offered me access to Harvard's vast library resources, both in print and digital form. The institution's online subscriptions, alongside scan-and-deliver and interlibrary loan services, allowed me to incorporate into my research a great deal of material in multiple languages that would otherwise be unavailable to a Greece-based researcher. In some cases, even Greek-language material proved easier to access via Harvard than via Greek institutions. Moreover, the fellowship facilitated access to Athens-based libraries and archives, including foreign archaeological schools.

During the fellowship, I had the chance to present my ongoing research both in Nafplio and in Washington, DC. The Nafplio workshop that took place in September 2025 included cultural activities in and around Nafplio and academic discussions in an amicable atmosphere. Although I was largely an outlier, as a researcher specializing in modernity among mostly antiquity-focused scholars, the event was very fruitful for me, as it helped me improve my own research and, at the same time, offered an engaging learning experience on topics with which I often had little previous familiarity.

The absolute highlight of the fellowship for me was the trip to Washington, DC, in the spring. This was an excellent opportunity to get to know the other Early Career Fellows and their work better, as well as to meet for the first time CHS residential fellows based in Washington. While there, I received valuable feedback on my research and established connections and potential collaborations with other researchers. I generally had a wonderful time at the CHS headquarters, whose premises are an ideal place for short- and mid-term research, with tranquil green outdoor spaces and many varied reading and meeting spaces inside. I particularly liked spending time in the library, as well as attending the various academic and cultural activities the hosts had planned for us. I also enjoyed visiting museums and exploring the city outside the planned activities.

In the lead-up to the end of the fellowship, I am working on a book proposal for a monograph that will present the findings of my CHS-supported research. In the future, I hope to build on both the knowledge and connections gained during the fellowship to continue work in reception studies. In closing, I would also like to express my gratitude to the administrative staff for their support, which made the experience seamless.