Stamatios Kleanthis was born in Kozani, Macedonia, in 1802. As a teenager, he moved to Wallachia to study but was quickly swept into the Greek War of Independence. Recruited by General Alexander Ypsilanti, he joined the war’s first organized military unit.
He fought in several battles before being captured at the Battle of Dragashani. After escaping Ottoman captivity, he travel through Europe, studying architecture at several prestigious universities, before returning to Greece.
In 1828, Kleanthis and his partner, Eduard Schaubert, were appointed public engineers by the new Greek head of state, Ioannis Kapodistrias, and tasked with the urban planning of Athens. They envisioned a city with wide avenues, extensive gardens, and the preservation of its ancient monuments. The plan was later rejected after much debate, deemed to expensive. Kleanthis resigned in protest.
Around 1831, the two bought a house on the north slope of the Acropolis. They renovated it with romantic Athenian elements, including unique and stylish windows, doors and terraces. The new building was considered the largest and most impressive on the northern slope of the Acropolis and became known as the Kleanthis House.
In 1837, the newly founded Othonios University moved into the house. It was the first university of the modern Greek state, now known as the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. In 1856, Kleanthis sold the property. He died six years later.
During the Cretan Revolt of 1868 to 1869, thousands of refugees fled to Athens, and the Kleanthis House was used to shelter many of them. Shortly after the revolt, the Greek Ministry of Archaeology acquired the property, which was subsequently used as a teacher training college, infantry barracks, and housing, with a taverna on the ground floor.
The historic building was declared a National Heritage site in 1945. In 1967, the University of Athens acquired it, and in 1987, it became the Athens University History Museum, also known as the Old University of Athens. Its mission is to collect, preserve, study and present the history of the University to the public.
Visitors today can step inside Kleanthis House, now considered one of the oldest residential buildings still standing in Athens. They can explore its collections of old and rare book editions, manuscripts, scientific instruments, portraits, photographs, medals, and other university memorabilia.