Academus

/əˈkædəməs/ noun

Definition

In Greek mythology, a legendary hero after whom Plato's Academy was named, believed to have owned the land where the school was established.

Etymology

From Greek 'Akademos' or 'Hekademus.' The exact etymology of the name itself is uncertain, but the legendary figure dates back to ancient Athenian mythology, with the Academy founding in 387 BCE.

Kelly Says

It's wild that we barely know anything about the historical Academus, yet his name traveled through 2,400 years of history to define what an 'academy' is—his one legacy is being the namesake for one of civilization's greatest centers of learning.

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