Lykeion Archaeological Site – Aristotle’s School in Athens
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Lykeion Archaeological Site, Aristotle’s School in Athens, Lyceum of Aristotle, Lykeion Athens, it’s funny that one of the least-known ancient sites in Athens would go by so many different names.
In this article, we’re explaining what Lykeion was, what the famous philosopher Aristotle had to do with it, and how to make the most of your visit to the archaeological site of Lykeion, a secret historic gem in the heart of the Greek capital.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Lykeion archaeological site.
Where Is The Lykeion Archaeological Site?
The archaeological site of Lykeion is in the center of Athens, near Syntagma Square and the National Garden.
The entrance to the archaeological site of Lykeion and the ticket offices are on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue. The modern avenue was built along the ancient road to Mesogeia, the area of East Attica.
In ancient times, the area of Lykeion was outside the walls, at the east of the city. It extended to Syntagma Square and the Temple of Olympian Zeus to the west, the banks of the River Ilissos to the south, and Lycabettus Hill to the north.
What Was Lykeion?
Lykeion was one of the first philosophical schools in Ancient Athens. Aristotle established Lykeion in the 4th century BC in a district of Athens called Lykeion. That’s where the School of Aristotle got its name from.
Lykeion Athens was vast. It included large open spaces for sports or philosophical discussions, roads, a library, and other structures to house all Lykeion activities related to the physical and spiritual education of young men.
What you see today in the Lykeion archaeological site are the foundations of the Lykeion Palaestra, the on-site wrestling school, that used to occupy only a part of the wider Lykeion area.
Similar to Aristotle’s Lyceum, other philosophy schools in Ancient Athens were Plato’s Academy and Antisthenes’ Cynosarges.
What Was a Gymnasium in Ancient Greece?
Aristotle founded his School at a Gymnasium that already existed in the Lykeion neighborhood. But what was a Gymnasium in Ancient Greece?
Initially, Gymnasia were open-air training centers outside the city walls, where naked athletes used to work out. The oldest Gymnasia in Ancient Greece started popping up in the 6th century BC.
Later, the famed Gymnasia evolved into important cultural centers where music, reading, and writing were practiced, alongside physical exercise.
The main building of any Ancient Gymnasium was the Palaestra, a wrestling school where athletes practiced wrestling, boxing, and a mix of both called Pankration.
Timeline of Lykeion Athens
Lykeion, the area where Aristotle established his philosophical school, was named after the Sanctuary of Apollo Lykeios (or Apollo Lyceus) that stood there.
The name Lykeios (or Lyceus) derives from the Greek word for wolf – λύκος (lykos). It probably refers to a pastoral god-protector of sheep. On a side note, the remains of this sanctuary haven’t been found yet.
In the 6th century BC, a Gymnasium was founded in this area by either Pericles, Pisistratus, or Lycurgus. Later, in 335 BC, Aristotle founded his Lyceum in the area where the Gymnasium was.
Aristotle taught at his own philosophical school for about twelve years. When Aristotle was forced to leave the city of Athens, his student Theofrastos took over the School.
Besides some ups and downs, the Palaestra of Lykeion didn’t stop operating until the 3rd century AD when Germanic tribes destroyed Athens.
The archaeological finds of Aristotle’s Lykeion are recent as the site was excavated in 1996 during the construction works for the nearby Goulandris Museum of Modern Art.
Who Was Aristotle?
Aristotle was born in 384 BC in Stagira, Northern Greece. He was a student of Plato at the Academy of Athens. Later, he became the teacher of Alexander the Great.
In the 4th century BC, the Macedonians were in constant conflict with Athens, trying to establish their dominion in Southern Greece.
This happened in 338 BC when, during the Battle of Chaeronea near the modern city of Livadeia, the Macedonians defeated the Athenians and their allies.
Around this time, Aristotle returned to Athens and founded Lykeion School where he spent the most productive period of his life.
Aristotle mastered every possible scientific and philosophical subject. For 18 centuries, until the Renaissance, he was considered the greatest scientist and philosopher, and his work was the epitome of human wisdom.
After Alexander the Great died, Aristotle was forced to leave Athens. He lived in Chalkida for the rest of his life. He died in 322 BC at the age of 62.
However, his legend lives on. During your trip to Athens, you can immerse yourself in the teachings of Aristotle by joining an insightful Philosophy workshop that takes you on a journey through Aristotle’s work and life, with a stop at the Lykeion archaeological site.
Why Is The Archaeological Site of Lykeion Important?
Alongside the other philosophy schools of Athens, Aristotle’s School was among the world’s first universities. In this School, Aristotle wrote some of his most emblematic works that set the foundations for modern science as we know it today.
Moreover, at Lykeion Athens, Aristotle created one of the most important libraries of the ancient world, inspiring the renowned libraries of Alexandria and Pergamon.
Is Aristotle’s Lyceum Worth Visiting?
No matter its small size and – admittedly – underwhelming remains, the archaeological site of Aristotle’s Lyceum is of great significance. That’s because this site was the birthplace of global intellect.
It’s also a constant reminder that a healthy mind goes hand in hand with a healthy body, the ideal of the complete human personality that both Romans and Ancient Greeks celebrated.
FAQs About Visiting The Archaeological Site of Lykeion
How long does it take to visit the Archaeological Site of Lykeion?
It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to walk around the Lykeion archaeological site.
Is Aristotle’s Lyceum included in the Athens Combo Ticket?
Yes, it’s one of the seven archaeological sites included in the Acropolis Combo Ticket.
Is The Archaeological Site of Lykeion accessible?
Yes, it is accessible and friendly to wheelchair users.
Is there a metro station near the Archaeological Site of Lykeion?
Yes, the archaeological site of Lykeion is a 6-minute walk from Evangelismos Metro Station and a 12-minute walk from Syntagma Metro Station.
Are there any toilets or other facilities at the Archaeological Site of Lykeion?
There aren’t any toilets or other facilities at the archaeological site of the Lyceum of Aristotle. However, you can use the toilets and café of the adjacent Byzantine Museum. You can get there via the gardens of the Byzantine Museum, which are within the area of Lykeion Athens.
What is the best time to visit the Archaeological Site of Lykeion?
The archaeological site of Lykeion is open year-round. As a lesser-known ancient site in Athens, it never gets busy. Therefore, you can visit Lykeion Athens any time of the year unless there’s heavy rainfall or excessive heat.
What To See in The Lykeion Archaeological Site – Walking Route
We love archaeological sites in Greece but, sadly, not all of them are easy to navigate. First of all, there isn’t always a clear route to follow. Moreover, not all areas have informative signs and, when they do, sometimes these signs use difficult terminology.
Also, on-site maps often include monuments or points of interest that are no longer visible – because they’re either destroyed or covered by the modern city.
This section is meant to help you navigate any ancient site in Greece by providing a tested-by-us walking route of the most important monuments that you can actually see – rather than just imagine.
Furthermore, we replace the original scientific terms (here in brackets) with simple translations in English when necessary and provide context in cases where informative signs are scarce or non-existent.
Your visit to the archaeological site of Lykeion follows a short circular route around the remains of the Palaestra. Once you enter the site, you see the northern part of Aristotle’s Lyceum.
Lykeion Archaeological Site Map
Panoramic View of Lykeion
After you walk the short path that starts at the ticket booth, make your first stop to enjoy a panoramic view of the Lykeion ruins. The two roofs on your left and right-hand sides protect the East and West Baths respectively. At the back, you can see the Peristyle Court of the Palaestra.
At the front, closer to you, there’s an Early-Roman built channel. You can see it better at the end of the visitor’s circuit from the east side.
Military Barracks
Following the visitor’s path along Rigillis Street, on your left-hand side, you’ll see the ruins of military barracks from the 1960s.
West Bath
After the main path, take the first left to see the ruins of the West Bath, where a plunge pool has remained almost intact.
The East and West Baths date back to Roman times, around the 1st century AD. Before that, there were probably simpler facilities for athletes to wash themselves.
Water Channel
The construction bisecting the Lykeion Palaestra was a channel that supplied water to the area.
We were amazed to see some seashells inside the channel.
Auxiliary Rooms of The Palaestra
Between the East and West Baths, there are scarce ruins of some small rooms. The largest in the middle was called Ephebeion, a lecture room. Next to the West Bath, Elaiothesio was where the athletes spread oil to their bodies before practice.
Next to the East Bath, Konisterion was a room with a sandpit for the athletes to roll in before wrestling. Another room was Korikeion, where wrestlers practiced with punching bags.
Peristyle Court
The large Court of the Palaestra is situated in the southern part of the archaeological site of Lykeion. This was where all the action took place. The Court is surrounded by colonnades on its east, west, and north sides.
The south side of the Palaestra, where the building’s main entrance probably was, hasn’t survived. Nowadays, the Athens Conservatory and the road network have covered this part of the Lykeion area.
Cistern & Well
The shelter at the northern part of the Court protects a Well that dates back to the 4th century BC and a Cistern from the 1st century AD.
The Cistern was filled with cold water and it was used by the athletes as a plunge pool for cold baths after their hot baths.
East Bath
Under each Bath, there was an underground space with pillars and a chamber where fire used to burn. The hot air produced by the fire circulated between the pillars and heated the floor and the water tank above.
While we couldn’t see anything at the West Bath, the pillars of the East Bath were impressive.
Archaeological Site of Lykeion Opening Hours
During the winter period:
November 1st to March 31st: 8 AM to 3 PM
During the summer period:
April 1st to August 31st: 8 AM to 8 PM
September 1st to September 15th: 8 AM to 7.30 PM
September 16th to September 30th: 8 AM to 7 PM
October 1st to October 15th: 8 AM to 6.30 PM
October 16th to October 31st: 8 AM to 6 PM
On January 1st, March 25th, May 1st, Greek Easter Sunday, December 25th, and December 26th the Lykeion archaeological site is closed.
Archaeological Site of Lykeion Entrance Fees
The full ticket price is 4 EUR. From November 1st to March 31st the admission fee is 2 EUR instead. The archaeological site of Lykeion is one of the seven archaeological sites included in the Acropolis Combined Ticket.
Free admission on the following days: March 6th, April 18th, May 18th, the last weekend of September, October 28th, and the first Sunday of each month from November to March.
How To Get To The Archaeological Site of Lykeion
The archaeological site of Lykeion is within walking distance from Syntagma Square in the heart of Athens. If you’re moving around central Athens by metro, the closest metro station is Evangelismos on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue.
Where To Stay Near Aristotle’s School in Athens
Boasting the ideal location to explore the historic part of the city, Syntagma is the best area to stay in Athens if you’re planning to do some heavy sightseeing.
Some of the best hotels around Syntagma Square are Belle Epoque Suites, Electra Metropolis, and Ergon House Athens.
Things To Do Near The Lyceum of Aristotle
Three of the most interesting museums in Athens – Benaki Museum, the Byzantine & Christian Museum, and the War Museum – are within short walking distance from the Lykeion archaeological site.
What’s more, a relaxing walk through the nearby National Garden and the ceremony of the Changing of The Presidential Guard in front of the large building of the Greek Parliament are two of the best things to do in Athens.
Here’s a concise guide on how to plan the perfect trip to Athens.
We hope you enjoyed this stroll through one of the smallest yet significant ancient sites in Athens.
The Lykeion archaeological site might not feature the impressive monuments you’ll see in other sites – for example, when you visit the Acropolis of Athens or explore the Ancient Agora of Athens. Yet, it’s still worth your time – it won’t claim much of it after all – if you’re a true Greek history aficionado.
Speaking of which, why not connect with fellow ancient history buffs and Greek mythology enthusiasts by joining our Ancient Greece Facebook group? See you there!
