PUBLICATIONS OF (ALMOST) FORGOTTEN TEXTS
("Archeio" means "Archive" in Greek)
ARCHEIO BOOKS, “child” of Ironick Ltd., aspire to bring out of the drawers old and forgotten or non-compiled texts of either well-known or totally unknown people and present them to a larger public. Unpublished memoirs, autobiographies, correspondences, diaries, photos, articles, drawings etc., all those private or family archives become interesting books for every reader and not only historians.
Except the main branch of Archeio Books, we also created a series of light and not scientific archaeological memoirs of the first excavation experience of Greek archaeologists (“The Archaeology of Archaeology series”), also the “New Archive” series that includes not fully archival material and the "Argonauts" series that deals with greek slang seen under its historical and topographical context.
All our books are illustrated with archival or unpublished photos and are sold at all Greek bookstores as well as in our e-shop, where you can also see the covers, number of pages, size and ISBN codes.
For any other information, please contact us here.
The "Archaeology of Archaeology" Series
(all illustrated)
Images and Memories of a long-gone Pella, by Despina Papakonstantinou – Diamantourou
2013
The first book of this series is based on Despina Papakonstantinou – Diamantourou’s first memories at the Ancient Pella excavations (1962-1964) and is part of the material owned by the writer which can be found alltogether on www.pella1962.wordpress.com
Also available in English at the Ancient Pella archaeological site
Life in Corfu, 1961-62, by Evi Touloupa
2014
In this second booklet of the series, Evi Touloupa writes about her memories from her first appointment in 1961 as an Antiquities Curator in the island of Corfu.
In Pylos together with Carl Blegen, G. A. Papathanassopoulos
2014
Georgios A. Papathanassopoulos, a tenacious and extraordinarily active archaeologist, dug at Pylos at the side of charismatic Carl Blegen who profoundly influenced him in his excavating method. In his ten years there, many things happened. Entertaining, significant and noteworthy incidents which he describes with his characteristic sense of humour in this third booklet of the “Archaeology of Archaeology” series.
Archaeology memories, by Konstantinos Tsakos
2015
In this fourth book of “Archaeology of Archaeology” series, Konstantinos Tsakos recalls his memories from the excavations in Vergina. There, by the side of Manolis Andronikos and in the company of the fictitious or actual protagonists of the glorious city, he experienced unforgettable moments. Nights full of fun, jokes and entertainment were on the daily menu of his digging adventure. The writing style of the author, always joyous and optimistic, makes his charming and interesting stories even more enjoyable.
Experiencing Macedonia, by Petros Themelis
2015
In the fifth volume of the “Archaeology of Archaeology” series we stride once more in the parts of Macedonia to follow this time the first steps of Petros Themelis in Archeology by the side of the “triumvirate”, i.e. professors Fotis Petsas, Charalambos Makaronas and Manolis Andronikos. The simple, daily-life aspect of these great archaeologists, life in nature far from the city, the incident of the discovery of Pella, hardships and joys of excavating, supplement the author’s account of his first scientific experiences.
Also available in English at the Ancient Pella archaeological site
Theodosios and the Nemea Stadium, by Stephen G. Miller
2016
Stephen G. Miller and Ancient Nemea constitute an exceptional chapter in the history of archaeological excavations in Greece. It’s all about an American archaeologist who became as one with the land he excavated. Nemea, of course, wasn't his first excavation: in this booklet you will find an account on his first steps in Sicily and the Ancient Agora of Athens. Nevertheless, the adventure of the discovery of Nemea’s Stadium is a breathtaking story; it reached a happy ending due to Theodosios, a local man. In order to honor him, this story is key to this publication and thus, the first years of Stephen G. Miller’s career follow, as an epilogue.
Also available in English at The Society for the Revival of the Nemean Games (Ancient Nemea, Greece)
On Tinos Island together with Kontoleon, by Fotini Zafeiropoulou
2016
Fotini Zafeiropoulou, a restless archaeologist traveler, took her first excavation lessons under the Cycladic sun before the Aegean touristic era boomed. Her adventures had as starting point the isle of Tinos, where she worked close to the great Professor Kontoleon.
Chania – Rethymno, by Yiannis Tzedakis 2017
Yiannis Tzedakis, an archaeologist known for this passionate work in western Crete, writes his memories of the first 10 years of his career, his organizing the Chania Museum and his contributing to the characterization of those 2 towns as Greek Heritage Monuments.
OTHER (2013-2020)
2013
2014 wall calendar
From the drawings by mechanical engineer Georges C. Papakonstantinou, during the years he was a student in the National Technival Univesrity of Athens (1915-1919, Mechanical Engineering Dpt.) A full selection of drawings can be found on www.gcpdrawings.wordpress.com
Letters from Paris, by Costas Varnalis
In 1926, poet Costas Varnalis visited France as a foreign correspondent of an athenian newspaper that doesn’t exist anymore (Progress). In a column called "Letters from Paris" he recorded his impressions not only of Paris but also from other parts of the country. They were the first correspondences that he wrote from there –pleasant, “light” articles, interesting for all, written with high spirits and seriousness, with a subtle sense of irony and the poet’s signature humour. This edition presents the Letters in a book for the first time. They are accompanied by seven articles on the theory of aesthetics written in the same period, most of them in Paris. The edition contains an exceptionally sophisticated timeline, while its special characteristic is that it includes archival photos of the poet from his years in France, two sketches drawn by his artist friends and a very original illustration based on the photos which accompanied the articles of Progress newspaper.I
illustrated
A night without Sancho – The last words of Don Quixote on his crucifix, by Iro Diamandourou (“New Achive” series)
It is a comical/tragic internal monologue referring to the relation of man with his ideals -an indirect presentation of Cervantes’ Don Quixote which supplements a void of this magnum opus-manifest against “Easiness”. The monologue was an order by actor Nikos Kalamό who played it for the first time on October 18 2013 at the Ίδρυμα Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης. Plot: Don Quixote, that is Alonso Quijano, has been left for the first time in his life alone in his last moments, without the constant dizziness from the endless argumentative words of Sancho Panza. Sick and worn-out by his humiliating adventures, he experiences absolute loneliness and is disgusted with his Maker. Cervantes wrote very little about these last six hours of Don Quixote’s life. Nevertheless, the insatiable spirit of Don Quixote comes to reveal to us what happened in this solitary and secret death scene.
2014
Memories οf Greece in the 50s, Skoumtsia and Milos Island, by Walter Hubka
In 1951, Walter Hubka, a twenty-five year old mining engineer from Austria left his homeland to work in Greece. It was his first contact with the country. For many years he lived and worked in Northern Greece, in Itea, in Milos Island and in Athens. We met him in 2007 on the occasion of filming the documentary Milos Revisited. In 2009 he sent us an English and German copy of his memoirs from Greece which he adored despite the difficulties he faced until he managed to understand and get used to such a different world. Greece then had just begun recovering from WWII and the Civil War; especially in the countryside where Walter Hubka worked initially, life was exceptionally difficult for everybody. Our publishing house presents a bilingual edition of his memories, illustrated with photos from these significant years.
Bilingual (gr/eng) + bilingual DVD (Milos Revisited)
illustrated
Correspondence 1939-1944, Elli Lambridi & Niki
A mother-daughter correspondence till the day the daughter got killed by accident during the December 1944 events. Texts by Yolanda Hatzi, foreword by Evi Touloupa, illustrated (b/w and colour). Some letters and documents are written in English or French (translated also in Greek).
illustrated
What I saw in Soviet Russia, by Costas Varnalis
Articles sent from Russia in a Greek newspaper (1935) by poet Costas Varnalis, while he visited the country for the 1st Soviet Writers’ Congress.
illustrated
December 1944 events, by Paris C. Diamantouros (“New Achive” series)
Narration of the events by the writer's objective point of view, accompanied by child remembrances of that period, written by well-known Athenians of today.
illustrated
2015
A day at the Imperial Ottoman Bank, by Georges (Giorgis) Cartalis
An original and quite rare “strictly confidential” report which is historically highly important (1915)
Soon also available in English and French (original language)
illustrated
A nice uncle, by Andreas Cartalis
An original 1946 children’s story, written and illustrated by the author. Introduced by wordls famous painter G. Rorris.
Colour illustration
News of the past, by Nikos Moschonas (“New Achive” series)
Essays on past’s actuality, with issues dated from Ancient Greece up to 19th century.
illustrated
Baghiatides & Hamoudjides (Μπαγιάτηδες & Χαμουτζήδες), by Charalambos A. Metaxas
("Slangonauts" series)
A Thessaloniki everyday or slang glossary especially written for Athenians...
2016
On Attica, by Costas Varnalis
Greek poet Costas Varnalis has worked as a newspaper chronicle writer from 1939-1958. He has written more than 3.500 chronicles about various subjects concerning Greece of those times. This is the first volume that we publish: 400 chronicles about Athens and Attica. A great book on old Athens.
Sicily -The last journey, by Despoina Papakonstantinou – Diamantourou
A collection of short texts (2008-2013) on Ancient and Modern Athens and Greece, by the archaeologist who worked through all her life on Macedonia (Pella) and Athens. The author’s kind and playful way of transmitting deep knowledge to the non-experts, the mingling of issues that seem irrelevant (a Swiss cataract, a Greek dog, Alexander the Great, ancient Greek inscriptions and laws…) and the scientific approach to the latter, create a small treasure that everybody can enjoy.
illustrated
Tegea-Mantineia-Pallantion, by Thanos G. Papathanassopoulos
Arcadia has been a much admired as well as much invaded place. Today at last one can calmly visit it and walk through the vestiges of it glorious past. Tegea, Mantineia and Pallantion are three of the greatest ancient towns that one can see with this book on hand as a guide to the antiquities, their history and their architectural value.
illustrated
In search of Man, by Claire B. Papapavlou
A book on the search of man’s identity by Western and Far-Eastern scholars. This book includes several essays composed in Greek and summarized versions of them in English dealing with various subjects, although they share a common feature: their concern about the concept of man. In Search of Man, at the crossroads of Europe and the Far East owes its new edition to an Imperial Decoration covering the author’s overall contribution to Japanese culture in Greece in the fields of research, teaching, and writing.
illustrated
Crossing the borders, by G. V. Chlorocostas
The biography of the author’s father who worked as a doctor during WWI, at the time when Greece was divided by two because of political conflicts (King George vs Venizelos).
illustrated
2017
Letters to Elli 1915-1937, by John Miliades.
Great archaeologist John Miliades and philosopher Elli Lambridi had a fervent love affair which left him devastated and us with a great correspondence, mingling love and archaeology, one of the only texts of him that survive and the first to be published. We proudly present it to the public, almost 100 years after it has been written.
Dr Ismini Trianti prefaces the book.
illustrated
Archive memories - A trip to the Cephalonia History Archive, by Nikos Moschonas.
Historian Nikos Moschonas narrates his experience and memories from the difficult restitution of Cephalonia History Archive, for which he has been responsible at the 70s.
illustrated
Agamemnon Schliemann - “The much-desired son”, by Eleni Bobou - Protopapa
A biography of Heinrich and Sophia Schliemann’s son, Agamemnon, about whom very few information is known, despite his famous father and his own turbulent love and political life. The author has published in the past the correspondence between Heinrich and Sophia Schliemann.
illustrated
On Crimes, by Kostas Varnalis (Dec. 2017)
Articles (1938-1957) on criminal events in Greece at that time period.
2018
Ancient Thouria – The Asklepieion, by Xeni Arapogianni
Under the olive trees a superb ancient Greek scenery was hidden. Xeni Arapogianni writes about the excavation and describes the history and significance of this great ancient Greek monument.
coulour illustration
The battle of Doiran, by Miltiades P. Argyropoulos (April 2018) Phone operator of the Greek Army at the time (1913) Miltiades P. Argyropoulos has written a detailed and breathtaking chronicle of this important battle (Second Balkan Wars) where Greeks successfully confronted the Bulgarian army.
colour illustration
A different excavation, by Pavlos P. Antonatos (April 2018) Archaeologist Pavlos P. Antonatos excavated the ruins of his aunt’s house, found some beautiful and rare well-hidden photos and made a photo album out of them, showcasing at the same time this beautiful woman’s mysterious past, her being an ex-agent that lost her mind and lived all her life into that ruined house.
colour illustration
Letters from the Macedonian front, 1915-1917, by Marcelin Delprat (May 2018) Marcelin Delprat has been an Orient Army soldier who spent 2 years in Macedonia Greece. His letters to his wife are a rare document of that troubled period.
illustrated
The time closet, by Angeliki Garidis (May 2018) The Greek revised translation of Angeliki Garidis' book.
illustrated
Seven happy summers, by Dimitris Sarantakos (Oct. 2018)
The memoirs of writer Dimitris Sarantakos.
illustrated
2019
Latent and weak arguments, by Nikos Moschonas (“New Archive” series) (Jun. 2020)
Historical essays on paradoxical, strange or unknown Greek cultural expressions, places and facts.
illustrated
41, Patission str, by Euridice Trichon - Milsani (Oct. 2020)
The history of an old Athenian house and its family or tenants.
illustrated
In research of the Greek Myth, by Emil Zaugg (Oct. 2020)
Greece of the 60’s (1960 and 1962) through well-trained eyes of then BBC&Cie President Emil Zaugg.
illustrated
War diary 1940-1941, by Nikolaos Kostopoulos (Nov. 2020)
A day-to-day thorough description of Greece’s Albanian War against Italian forces.
illustrated
On Feasts, by Costas Varnalis (Dec. 2020)
Articles (1938-1957) about Athenian taverns: eating, drinking, smoking and having fun.
2020
On War, by Costas Varnalis (Oct. 2020)
Articles (1940-1941) written during and about that period of WWII in Greece.
2021
On Love, by Costas Varnalis (Nov. 2021)
Articles (1939-1954)
Mystra Stories, by Thanos Papathanassopoulos (Nov. 2021)
2022
On History, by Kostas Varnalis (Dec. 2022)
Articles (1938-1957) on various historical events from ancient times to our days.
2023
Mother and a Mosaic, by Pavlos Antonatos (Nov. 2023)
A true story of a family who wanted to build a house, but underground antiquities were found on the spot.
A Sacred Squadron Warrier’s Diary, by L. Herckert (Nov. 2023)
A day-to-day diary of the North Africa Campaign during WWII.
George 26, by G. V. Chlorokostas (Dec. 2023)
A street with a wrongly spelled name and a torn down house’s history and architectural representation.
On Letters, by Kostas Varnalis (Dec. 2023)
Articles (1938-1957) on ancient, classical and modern literature.
PRESENTATIONS 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
2013, December 16th - National Research Foundation Amphitheatre
Speakers: Yola Pitta-Chlorokosta, Despoina Papakonstantinou-Diamandourou, Nikos Sarantakos, Nikos Κalamό, Iro Diamandourou
***
2014, December 20th - Benaki Museum Amphitheatre
Speakers: Yolanda Hadzi, Evi Touloupa, Nikos Sarantakos, Paris C. Diamantouros, Giorgos Papathanassopoulos, Iro Diamandourou
***
2015, December 19th - Danaos Cinema
Speakers: Petros Themelis, Konstantinos Tsakos, Yianna Venieri, Vassilis Cartalis, Nikos Moschonas, Charalambos (Babis) Metaxas, Iro Diamandourou
***
2016, February 5th - Maroussi Mayor Hall
(a night dedicated to Evangelos Doussis and his Memoirs published by Archeio Books)
Speakers: Mayor of Maroussi, Vice Mayor of Maroussi, Yianna Venieri, Giorgos Pallis, Dimitris Polychroniadis
***
2016, December 9th - Parnassos Hall
(Speakers: Nikos Sarantakos, Klairi Papapavlou, Fotini Zafiropoulou, Giorgos Chlorokostas, Thanos Papathanassopoulos, Iro Diamandourou)
***
2018, May 10th, ASCS Athens, Cotsen Hall
(Speakers: Natalia Vogeikof Brogan, Angeliki Garidis, Miranda Terzopoulou, Eleni Bobou Protopapa, Xeni Arapogianni, Nikos Moschonas, pavlos Antonatos, Miltiades Argyropoulos, Iro Diamandourou).
FULL ARCHEIO BOOKS VIDEO LIST HERE