All people by nature desire to know.

Πάντες ἄνθρωποι τοῦ εἰδέναι ὀρέγονται φύσει.

Aristotle, Metaphysics 980a

Welcome to the Centre for Classical Studies

The Centre for Classical Studies (CEC), based in the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Lisbon, is a community of researchers dedicated to producing high-impact research in Classics and the Classical heritage, training graduate students, and engaging in outreach efforts. Our Centre was recently evaluated as ‘Excellent’ by an international panel in the latest FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) assessment exercise. 
 
We take pride in our exceptional team of researchers and our stimulating environment, which supports scientific research and training while promoting collaboration, multidisciplinarity, critical thinking, and creativity. Our research agenda is comprehensive and balanced, with a strong emphasis on fundamental research based on texts and manuscripts. Through our work, we aim to develop new knowledge and insights that can contribute to a better understanding of our shared cultural heritage. We are particularly committed to investing in young, talented researchers, providing multi-faceted support in their early-stage research training. We consistently encourage and assist all our researchers in securing national and international competitive funding and in actively participating in, or organising, academic and outreach events.
 
We also believe that engagement with society is crucial, both to ensure that our research takes into account the social implications of our work and to promote public understanding of our discipline and research outcomes. We are committed to keeping an open dialogue with the broader community and to making our research accessible to all. CEC is proud to host researchers from different generations, backgrounds, and nationalities who contribute as a group not only to the advancement of knowledge about the classical world and its reception but also to a close engagement with contemporary social and cultural issues.
 
We welcome visiting academics and researchers, and we look forward to hearing from all those interested in joining us.
Paulo Farmhouse Alberto

Director

Fotini Hadjittofi

Deputy Director

Carlos Guardado da Silva

Deputy Director

History

The Centre for Classical Studies was founded by Francisco Rebelo Gonçalves in 1966 within the framework of the Portuguese Institute for High Culture. Gonçalves became the first Director of the Centre and assumed the responsibilities of editing and managing the scholarly journal Euphrosyne. The Centre was originally based in the Department of Classical Studies (DEC) in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon. 

When Gonçalves retired, Maria Helena Ureña Prieto succeeded him in the direction of the Centre and Euphrosyne. After the creation of the National Institute of Scientific Research, the CEC was directed by a commission comprising five members presided over by José António Segurado e Campos. 

In 1994, the CEC was restructured, becoming independent of the DEC and integrated into the University of Lisbon. In that same year, Aires A. Nascimento, the Director of Euphrosyne since 1985, assumed the role of Director of the Centre for Classical Studies, with Vítor Jabouille as his Deputy. He then consolidated the structure of the CEC into five main areas: Greek, Classical Latin, Medieval Latin, Renaissance Latin, and Instrumenta. With an unparalleled work capacity, he led the CEC until his retirement in 2008. Afterward, Arnaldo do Espírito Santo served as Director until 2010 when Maria Cristina de Castro-Maia de Sousa Pimentel took the reins. She headed the Centre until 2017, when Rodrigo Furtado was elected Director. His term concluded in 2025 with the election of Paulo Farmhouse Alberto, the current Director.

 

Regulations and Statutes can be seen here.

Contacts

Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa 
Alameda da Universidade
1600-214 Lisboa
Portugal

Telephone: (351) 217 920 005
Fax: (351) 217 920 080
e-mail: centro.classicos@letras.ulisboa.pt
Opening times:
10:00-12:00, 14:00-16:00 (working days)