Academus facts for kids

Academus (/ˌækəˈdiːməs/; Ancient Greek: Ἀκάδημος, romanized: Akádemos), also Hecademus (Ancient Greek: Ἑκάδημος, romanized: Hekádemos), was a special hero from Ancient Athens in Greek mythology. The place named after him, called Akademeia, was a beautiful park or grove near Athens. This famous spot is where the philosopher Plato later started his school. That's why the word "academy" today means a place for learning, like a school or university!

The Ancient Place of Academus

The area known as Academus was very important to the ancient Greeks. It was considered sacred to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Other gods and heroes were also honored there. Since the Bronze Age, people had worshipped at this site. It was especially linked to the hero Akademos and the hero-gods, the Dioskouroi (who were Castor and Polydeukes).

Over time, the name of this place changed to Akademeia. It was also sometimes called Ecademia. A famous Athenian leader named Cimon helped make the area even nicer. He turned the dry land into a beautiful, well-watered park. It had clear running tracks for exercise and shady paths for walking. The sacred olive trees in this grove produced the olive oil given as prizes in the Panathenaic Games. These prizes were put into specially decorated jars called Panathenaic amphorae.

Academus in Mythology

Academus is known in myths for helping to save the city of Athens. The ancient writer Plutarch tells a story about the Athenian king Theseus. After his wife died, King Theseus, who was about 50 years old, took the 12-year-old Helen. This happened long before she became famous for the Trojan War.

Helen's twin brothers, Castor and Pollux, were very angry. They invaded Attica (the region around Athens) to rescue their sister. They even threatened to destroy Athens! Luckily, Academus knew where Helen was hidden, in a place called Aphidnae. He told the brothers where to find her. Because Academus helped them, Helen's father, Tyndareus, was very grateful.

Plutarch wrote that Academus was honored for this act. Later, when the Spartans (from a city called Sparta) invaded Attica, they destroyed many areas. But they always left the Academy untouched, out of respect for Academus.

Plato's Academy

The site of Academus became very famous because of Plato. Plato was a brilliant philosopher who lived in ancient Greece. He founded his famous school, the Academy, right there in the groves of Academus. This is where he taught his students and shared his ideas.

According to ancient writers, a man named Dion bought a small garden for Plato within the Academy. Another writer, Timon of Phlius, described Plato as a "big fish" and a "sweet-voiced speaker." He said Plato's words were as delicate as a lily, like a cicada singing from the trees of Hecademus.

The Groves of Academe

You might hear the phrase "the groves of Academe" sometimes. This saying comes from an ancient Roman poet named Horace. In his writings from around 20 B.C., he wrote: Atque inter silvas academi quaerere verum, which means "To seek for truth in the groves of Academe."

Later, the English poet John Milton used this phrase in his work Paradise Regained. He wrote: "See there the Olive Grove of Academe, Plato's retirement, where the Attic Bird Trills her thick-warbl'd notes the summer long." More recently, the author Mary McCarthy used the phrase as the title for her funny novel, The Groves of Academe.

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