Site of the Academy

‎We are looking toward the west. The half century following the battle of Salamis (480–430 B. C.) follows the most brilliant period of Athenian history, and one of the most illustrious in the history of the world. This was the era of Pericles. Socrates belongs to the epoch immediately following the age of Pericles. Plato, a disciple of Socrates, founded the great Academe, so called because the grove or garden in which it was situated was given to Athens for a gymnasium by the old hero Academus. The Academy of Plato was about two miles out of Athens on the plain of Attica. Here, amidst beautiful and enchanting scenery, perfect seclusion and profound stillness, the philosopher and his students conversed. The grounds were planted with plane trees and olives and adorned with many statues. There was here a temple to Athene and a modest little house of Plato, over the door of which were the words: “Let no one enter who is ignorant of geometry.” The teachings of Plato were profound. His influence has been very great. The chief object of his life was to spread the philosophy of his eminent teacher, Socrates, “whose greatest thought was to show that there is a God who makes all and rules all and that the soul lives forever.” Plato was the writer of essays in the form of questions and answers. Fortunately, the Academe was surrounded by some of those permanent natural objects which remain when the works of man are obliterated. By these, we are guided to the spot “where Plato instructed the youth of Athens in the lessons of an enlarged and humanizing philosophy.” In the midst of associations like these, we find it easy to “recall and repeople scenes that have been consecrated by the highest examples of wisdom and virtue.”