Plato’s Academy

The area of the Academy was inhabited from early prehistoric times until the 6th century BC. The area was originally called Akadimia, after the local hero Akadimos. In the end, however, the name Plato's Academy (Platonic Academy) prevailed and went down in history as the name of the famous philosophical school founded by Plato in 387 BC. The school reached its peak during the period of the Neoplatonic Philosophers, shortly before it was finally closed by Justinian in 529 AD, along with all the similar schools of Athens. Much later, at the beginning of the 20th century, it became the district of Athens that experienced intense industrial and residential development. Excavations, which began in 1929 and continue to this day, have brought to light important finds such as an Early Hellenistic arched residence (considered to be the residence of the mythical hero Akadimos), a Geometric sacred residence, a 4th century BC peristyle building, a 1st century BC Roman gymnasium and others of lesser importance.