Archaeological Site of the Lyceum of Aristotle — Attraction in Athens

AND THE LYKEION The first gymnasia of ancient Athens were established during the Archaic period (6" century BC) in spacious areas outside the city-wall, in the suburbs of Akademia (Academy), Lykeion (Lyceum) and Kynosarges. They were located near shrines, groves and rivers, essential for their water supply, Initially, the gymnasia were probably open spaces with rudimenta ry athletic installations, where youths exercised naked. In Classical times (Sh and 4 century BC) they acquired a concrete architectural form. The gymnasia played a decisive role in the bodily and spiritual education of young men, interwoven as they were with the concept of gymnastics as a cultural system, promoting the ideal of the complete human personality, harmonious in mind and body. The gymnasia were public edifices erected, maintained and refurbished at the expense of the city and through donations. The main building of the gymnasium was the palaestra, where athletes trained in wrestling, boxing and pankration (a combination of wrestling and boxing). The state entrusted the direction of the gymnasium to the gymnasiarch, a prominent person with influence on his fellow citizens. Gradually, the gymnasium evolved into a prominent cultural centre. In the Lykeion the work of Protagoras On Gods was read aloud and, as mentioned in Plato's dialogues, the site was frequented by Socrates. In the 4th century BC the first philosophical schools, in essence the first universities, were founded in the gymnasia: Plato established his School in the Academy (the name comes after the hero Academos), Aristotle in the Lykeion and Antisthenes in the Kynosarges. According to ancient testimonies, Lykeion, where we are now, was a suburb, lying east of the city, outside the Diochares Gate. The area of Lykeion was delimited to the southwest by the sanctuary of Zeus Olympios or Olympieion and the other sanctuaries on the banks of the River llissos, to the south by the Ilissos and to the north by Lycabettus hill and the River Eridanos. The ancient road leading to the Mesogeia, the course of which coincided with present Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, passed through here. The sanctuary of Apollo Lykeios (Lyceus), which pre-existed the gymnasi um but has not yet been found, seems to have given its name to the area. Apollo Lykeios must have been worshipped here since time immemorial as a pastoral god, protector of herds and flocks from the wolves (Gr. lykos = wolf). It is surely no coincidence that the Lykeion/Lyceum-is situated below Lycabettus. The foundation of the gymnasium at Lykeion is ac- credited by the historian Theopompus to the tyrant Peisistratos, by the historian Philochoros to Pericles, while by the traveller Pausanias to the orator Lykourgos. From passages by Aristophanes and the historian Xeno- phon we are informed that Lykeion was used as a training place of the hoplites and the cavalry of the Athenian army. Diogenes Laertius, author of Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, listing the wishes of Theophrastus, the best-known student of Aristotle and his successor in the School (322-287 BC), recounts that his garden, in which he desired to be buried, was located in the Lykeion. He also mentions a shrine devoted to the Muses, two stoas, an altar and statues of Aristotle and Nikomachus. During the Roman invasion of Athens in 86 BC, Sulla felled the trees in the Lykeion and the Academy, in order to construct siege machines to beleaguer the Piraeus. The palaestra, basic building of an ancient gymnasium, was a training area for athletes exercising in wrestling, boxing and pankration. In ancient Athens till late Roman period there were functioning public and private palaestrae. The palaestra of the Lykeion has been revealed over an area of 0.25 hectares (50 x 48 m.). A large building with longitudinal axis from north to south, its foundations were laid in the second half of the 4th century BC, although there are indications of earlier use of the space from the 6th century BC. The complex was preserved,...

Just outside the ‘centre’ of Athens (by that I mean the area that, if you’re visiting, you’ll be spending most of your time), it’s a 20 minute walk from the bottom of the Acropolis, through the park and through the embassy / diplomatic district.

You have to pay to get in (it’s cheap), and while I mean this as no criticism, you should not go here expecting to be amazed. As an important, interesting and significant historical site, I would absolutely consider it a must-see if you’re in Athens; but in comparison to the Acropolis or the agora, there’s a lot less to actually see, because it mostly consists of the stone outlines of the ancient site on the ground, which you walk around in a big square.

If you buy a (cheap) ‘all access’ ticket, which you can get at most sites and which grants you access to the majority of Athen’s museums, then you really might as well go. It’s an interesting place to visit, the walk there is very pleasant, and afterwards, if you continue along the main embassy road, you arrive at the Greek Parliament where there are soldiers on parade etc. Keep going still and you can visit Athen’s modern academy and the university/business district - it’s such a contrast from the ‘traditionally greek’ part of the city that surrounds the Acropolis that it’s well worth...

I guess in terms of historical significance, if you can only go to three places in Athens they'd be the Pnyx, the Acropolis, and here. The Pynx is free and this site is included with the multi-ticket that includes the Acropolis, Agora, etc. I want to address some of the, to me, overly negative comments. It's simply not true that there's nothing to see here. What you have are the stone foundations of the buildings, with walkways around and through with boards explaining the site and function. It's true there are no spectacular buildings or statues, but it's not 'nothing'. As with many archeological sites you have the foundations and outline and historical placards. I don't see how you can fail to be impressed with the significance and explanations at the site. However, if you're just looking for eye candy, true, it's not here. Go to...