'Bernard hates festschriften', somebody said, and this may well be true. Yet there is an argument for the defense, worn out by frequent use and misuse but simply true for once: this is a special case. For there exists at Washington, DC, a very special, nay unique institution, the Center for Hellenic Studies, where year after year eight Hellenic scholars of various nationalities, beyond the level of doctorate but not yet fully installed and absorbed in the university system, are offered an opportunity to pursue a research project of their own choice in an atmosphere of serene scholé, with a magnificent library right at hand and a chance for talks and discussions of all sorts. Thus, ever since the Center's beginnings in 1961, an ever growing community of former junior fellows has been spreading all over the world ex-centrics they might be called-, cherishing memories of the year at'The Center'and drawing on the stimulating experience and the progress achieved in this place. Many recent publications can be seen to contain an introductory remark acknowledging the importance of the year at the Center for the growth and final outcome of the work. But it is not the stipend, the housing, the library that could have these itself, were there not the all-pervading presence of a unique personality to animate the institution, a man of indisputable authority and competence yet known to all just by his first name: Bernard. And this has been the most special fact in all these years.

The idea to pay tribute to the Center and its director by bringing together studies of former fellows has been put forth repeatedly. It is at the same time a formidable undertaking, as it means to expose various seeds that germinated in the sheltered abodes at Whitehaven Street to the gusty winds of international criticism, which might turn honest intentions of doing honor to its very contrary. Yet'the risk is beautiful', while the wisdom of silence is questionable; it seemed worth while after all to take a chance now and not to delay plans indefinitely, since, in the words of Sophocles,'All things long uncounted time brings forth from obscurity and buries once they have appeared'.