The Lykeion or Lyceum of Aristotle

The Lykeion or Lyceum of Aristotle

The Lykeion or Lyceum of Aristotle was also called the "Peripatec School", 335 BC, because students and teachers, would stroll  (peripeto = walk) the tree lines grounds during the course of lectures.

This place of learning was one of ancient Athens most important sites and the fore-runner of todays modern university and museum. Here Aristotle and others taught philosophy, mathematics and rhetoric.

Its exact where abouts were only established recently and were assumed to have been near Syntagma Square or the National Gardens just outside the Diochares Gate. However, during the construction of a new wing for the Goulandris Museum of Cycladic Art, just east of Rigillis Street on Vassilias Sophias Ave. a part of the Lykeion's remains were unearthed.

This was a very famous school particularly for philosophy and the organization of knowledge with an extensive library and museum. It was more formal in style than the lesser gymnasia such as the Academy where Plato taught. The groves of the Academy and Lykeion were cut down during the seige of Athens by the Roman Emperor Sulla in 86 BC. The close by Byzantine Museum of Athens is being enlarged and it will encompass an archeological park which will include the Lykeion. Please see walking tour map #4 for major museums and approximate location.

Incidentally, the "Stoic" school of philosophy was so called beacuse it was taught in the "stoa" of the Athenean Agora.