|
The Lyceum (Lykeion) was a gymnasium in ancient Greece, most famous for its
association with Aristotle. The Lyceum is the birthplace of Western science and
philosophy. The complex itself, named for its sanctuary to Lycian Apollo,
dates from before the 6th century BC, while Aristotle founded his
famous school there in 335 BC. Aristotle walked in the lyceum's stos and grounds as he lectured, surrounded by a throng of
students, so the philosophical school he founded was called the Peripatetics.
Aristotle was the head of his school until 323 BC when he fled to Macedonia after a charge of impiety was made against him. Theophrastus served as the second head of the school. Later heads include Strato of Lampsacus and Alexander of Aphrodisias.
The school was sacked by Roman general Lucius Cornelius
Sulla in 86 BC, but it was later rebuilt. The precise date at which the Lyceum ceased
to be used is not known. The actual location of the complex was lost for centuries, until it was rediscovered in 1996, during excavations for the new Museum of Modern Art. Recovery of the site was a goal for
modern Greek national identity. "We have now, here, in Athens, the main proof about the historical continuity of the Hellenic
cultural heritage," said Cultural Minister Venizelos Evangelos.
American Lyceums
In the late 1800s and early 1900s there was an
informal network of lyceums in the United States,
usually in small towns. Professional speakers would tour from town to town, lecturing on history, politics, art, and cultural
topics in general, usually holding open discussion after the lecture.
The structures were usually a theater or gymnasium space, often adjacent to or part of the Town Hall.
The best description of this mostly forgotten phenomenon might be a cross between the European coffeehouse of the 17th and 18th centuries with the organizational aspects of vaudeville.
Other Lyceums
In honor of Aristotle's Lyceum, several other organizations and schools have used the name lyceum. The
French word for secondary education, lycée, derives from Lyceum.
External Links
|