Akadimia Platonos, literally meaning Plato's Academy, is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Athens and an modern Athenian neighbourhood just 3km (2mi) from downtown Athens. The area has endured intense industrial and residential development over the years.
Map of Athens by Jean-Denis Barbié du Bocage, with the location of Plato's Academy
Akadimia Platonosfirst saw housing developments in the early part of the 20th century when Athens began to grow. An industrial zone was also laid out during this time. It was full urbanised during the 50's after the Greek Civil War.
The church of St. George
The name of Academia Platonos derives from two sources: from its first inhabitants Ekadimo or Academo and from the famous Athenian philosopher, Plato who in 387 B.C. founded here the Academy a center of culture, research and political thought.
Inhabited since the early pre-historic era, the area began undergoing major changes with the arrival of Tyrant Hippias in the 6th Century B.C. A gymnasium was built on the site, and Hippias built a «peribolos» (fence).
Ancient Athens map
Almost a century later, Cimon planted the entire area with trees, but in 86 B.C. they were chopped down when Roman emperor Syllas sacked the city of Athens.
Excavations began in 1929 and continue to the present day. They have revealed significant findings, such as an arched residence from the Early Helladic era, thought to be the actual home of the mythical hero, Akademos; a sacred house from the Geometric era; a peristyle building from the 4th century B.C.; the Roman gymnasium dating to the 1st century A.C., and multiple other buildings.
the Archaeological Park
The Plato's Academy area is characterized as an archaeological park, maintaining the spirit and the culture of that era. Many state and local cultural and educational organizations periodically organize art exhibitions, philosophical discussions and free courses in Philosophy, Language, Science, Art, etc. keeping this place an unchanged center of culture and education.
Plato's Academy Digital Museum
This small, purpose-built museum opened its doors in November 2015 on the grounds of the archaeological site of Plato’s Academy that is now recognized as an archaeological park.
Plato's Academy Digital Museum
The Digital Museum is housed in a new building in the archaeological park and comprises of a series of physical exhibits and multimedia applications with a variety of thematic areas.
When you visit the museum, you travel back in time and muse on the enduring philosophical questions posed by Plato on the very spot where he walked and taught 2500 years ago. Thanks to the latest technologies, visitors can «experience» the peculiarities of life and the education process of Plato Academy.
Plato's Academy Digital Museum
Through multiple levels of information consisting of texts, multimedia material and images, the visitor will be navigated both in the area and in the «world of ideas». The bilingual interactive installations and video projections will help you to navigate in a profound world of ideas that has influenced modern thought and inspired humanity for two millennia.
Plato's cave
The highlight of the museum is the unique digital copy of the cave Plato described in “The Republic”, likening uneducated minds to prisoners chained inside a cave, unable to think by themselves and build their path to enlightenment.
The Plato Academy
It was a a center of culture, research and political thought that thrived during the years of the Neo-Platonic philosophers, until being permanently closed in 529 A.D., by Emperor Justinian, who shut down all other Athenian schools as well.
The historians consider the Plato's Academy to be the first higher education establishment in the world.
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