Ambassador Aghi Balta, Consul General to Greece in New York, hosted an event on May 12, featuring a lecture by Dr. Maria Georgopoulou, Director of the Gennadius Library, entitled Venice and Byzantium after 1204, at the Greek Consulate, followed by a reception. Over 50 prominent Greek Americans and other philhellenes who support the work of the Gennadius Library and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens were in attendance, including ASCSA Trustees Andrew Bridges, James McCredie, Mary Sturgeon, Malcolm Wiener and Alexander Zagoreos.

Dr. Georgopoulou states that “Venice offers the most significant testimony to the brilliance of Byzantine culture in the Middle Ages. Before 1204 Venice referred to itself as the ‘daughter of Byzantium.’ Following the capture of Constantinople by the crusaders in 1204, Venice became an imperial power founding its maritime empire on the ashes of Byzantium.” Her talk explored the Byzantine imperial treasures and religious relics that the Venetians used as civic monuments in their city as well as the commercial artifacts that brought money and prestige to Venice.

A reception followed the lecture, with mezedes kindly donated by Chef Jim Botsacos of Molyvos and the Livanos Family, and the wine by Sotiris Bafitis.