Akropolis 4 (2020) 85-108 Pandeleimon Hionidis* British Hellenism and British Philhellenism: The Establishment of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, 1879 Introduction On 16 June 1879, the inaugural meeting of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies was held in London. Te frst article of the Society’s rules, which was formed according to the essence of the addresses in the meeting, stipulated among its objects: To advance the study of Greek language, and art, and to illustrate the histo- ry of the Greek race in the ancient, Byzantine, and Neo-Hellenic periods, by the publication of memoirs and unedited documents or monuments in a Journal to be issued periodically. 1 Te Society’s guiding principles constituted a major departure in British Hellenism, that is, in classical studies and the approach of ancient Greek civili- zation in the Victorian era. For the greater part of the nineteenth century, the fourishing of classical studies and the gradual shifing of emphasis from Roman to Greek civilization was not only independent of any researches into modern Greece but it was largely considered as irrelevant to them. Te implications, however, of this new shif in emphasis could prove crucial to British philhellenism as well. Te incorporation of the modern Greeks into the feld of academic interest and pursuits provided valuable solutions to many dif- cult questions that puzzled those Britons – commonly termed “philhellenes” afer *Hellenic Open University, Greece (chionidis.panteleimon@ac.eap.gr) 1 “Rules”, ix.