Akadimia Platonos ( ) literally meaning Plato's Academy, is a neighbourhood located west-northwest of the downtown part of the Greek capital of
Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
.
History
The area is named after
Plato's Academy
The Academy (Ancient Greek: Ἀκαδημία) was founded by Plato in c. 387 BC in Athens. Aristotle studied there for twenty years (367–347 BC) before founding his own school, the Lyceum. The Academy persisted throughout the Hellenistic p ...
, which he founded in the area in 387 BC and which continued to operate until it was destroyed by the Roman dictator Sulla in 86 BC.
Lindberg, David C. (2007). The Beginnings of Western Science
University of Chicago Press. p. 70. . Excavations of Ancient artefacts began in 1929 and continue to the present day, under the auspices of the third General Directorate of Antiquities.
The area 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. The area was mostly urbanised during the period after World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
and the civil war
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
.
Present day
The area is densely populated, with people mainly living in five to seven-story buildings. Major streets bordering this subdivision include Lenorman Avenue to the east, Palamidou Street to the south and Athinon Avenue ( GR-8 and GR-8A and E90 westbound.)
The two main squares are Akademia Platonos and Metaxa
Metaxa ( el, Μεταξά) is a Greek amber spirit created by Spyros Metaxa in 1888. Its taste comes from the combination of Muscat wines from the island of Samos, aged wine distillates, and Mediterranean botanicals.
The Metaxa Collection cons ...
. The population is approximately 15,000.
Residential streets
Several residential streets are named after places in the Peloponnese, famous people, and myths.
Amenities
Akadimia Platonos has schools, lyceums (middle schools), gymnasia (secondary schools), churches, banks, shops and squares ('' plateies''). The nearest Athens Metro
The Athens Metro ( el, Μετρό Αθήνας, Metro Athinas, translit-std=iso) is a rapid-transit system in Greece which serves the Athens urban area and parts of East Attica. Line 1 opened as a conventional steam railway in 1869 and electrif ...
subway station is to the east (Metaxourghio metro station
Metaxourgeio ( el, Μεταξουργείο), also known as Metaxourghio on signage, is a station on Athens Metro Line 2. It opened in January 2000 as one of the 7 first stations of line 2. It is located west of Omonoia Square
Omonoia Square ( ...
).
Akadimia Platonos has also given its name to the title of a movie screened in Locarno Film Festival 2009 directed by Filippos Tsitos.
References
External links
Plato's AcademyAkademia Platonos on GTP Travel Pages
(in English and Greek)
Movie Clips
{{Athens
Neighbourhoods in Athens