"The Ionian University"

The Ionian University of Smyrna constituted one of the most important initiatives of Smyrna's High Commission new Administration. This initiative was a luminous idea of Elefterios Venizelos, Prime Minister of Greece during that time. Main purpose of the University was the achievement of a peaceful co-existence for all peoples and religions of Asia Minor through higher education. The Motto of the Institution was:

"Ex - Oriente Lux"

which meant "The Light coming from East". For the preparation and the organization of the University, the Greek Government hired Ph.D. Konstantinos Karatheodoris, that time professor of Mathematics at the University of Goettingen and later on of the University of Berlin.

Originally coming from the Greek Elite of Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey), K. Karatheodoris was raised by his grandmother in Brussels, graduated from the military school of Brussels, became engineer at the Assiout dam in Egypt and finally dedicated his to the science of Mathematics. He studied and embarked on an international academic career, haunted by wars and catastrophes.

K. Karatheodoris had many years ago expressed the idea of the foundation of a second Greek University, aiming at solving the need for new scientists coming from Asia Minor. His scientific value together with his pan-European fame was the best guarantee for a safe and successful launch and subsequently operation of the new Institution. Immediately after his appointment as Dean, he nominated the famous microbiologist Hatzivassiliou, for the position of the Director of Studies, to design and organize an innovative program for the students. After 1919, Karatheodoris left Berlin permanently and settled in Smyrna; there he succesfully combined his talent in managing the new University as well as cooperating with his scientific team for the completion of the national educational vision. At the same time he took up the supervision of the Office of Organization of the Ionian University, which had been founded at High Commission of Smyrna in 1919. His ingenious conception was rooted in his attempt to create a new Institution equally worthy, but even more progressive, compared to the Athens Capodistrian University, which had been mostly focusing its academic program in studies related to Classical Archeology.

Karatheodoris at a Smyrna

road around 1920

The building which was qualified to hospitalize the new University was a half - finished building situated in Bahri - Baba heights, a small hill inside the city. The stretch that the building site was to be raised belonged to the Jewish community and it had been used as a cemetery. Nevertheless, during the First World War, the Turkish Prefect, Rahmi - Bei decided to built in the same place a big building, that later would be used for housing a Muslim school. Moreover, to succeed a good and impressive construction, he used the marbles from the Jewish graves(!) as well as some architectural parts from the Ancient Ephesus (!) that he transferred to Smyrna. After the Sevres Treaty where Smyrna had ceded under Greek Administration, that building was almost ready from outside, but still its internal was unfinished. So, the Greek Administration immediately started to rebuilt and renovate the internal halls so to serve the needs for the new University. The work for the reconstruction finished the summer of 1922 and the new Academic year (1922 - 1923) was to be inaugurated till the nightmare came true...When the Turks razed Smyrna in 1922, Karatheodoris saved the University library and moved it with him to the University of Athens, where he taught until 1924.

The building of the Ionian University of Smyrni.

For the history, we state that the new building comprised 70 teaching chambers, a big auditorium, several labs and a library. The Ionian University would have embodied the following departments: Department of Physics and Technological Sciences, Agricultural School, Department of East Languages and Ethnology, a School of Public Services Management, Department of preparatory Studies, an Hygiene Institute, Department of Commerce Studies, a School for Public Sector contractors, a School for Muslim Education and an Experimental farm. The organization of the University would have followed an English - Saxon and German prototype.