GYMNASIUM, in Grecian antiquity, a place fitted for performing exercises.—The word is Greek, formed of γυμνός, "naked;" by reason they anciently put off their clothes, to practise with the more freedom.
Gymnasia, according to Potter, were first used at Lacedæmon, but were afterwards very common in all parts of Greece; and imitated, very much augmented, and improved, at Rome. They were not single edifices, but a knot of buildings united, being sufficiently capacious to hold many thousands of people at once; and having room enough for philosophers, rhetoricians, and the professors of all other sciences to read their
lectures,—and wrestlers, dancers, and all others who had a mind, to exercise,—at the same time, without the least disturbance or interruption. They consisted of a great many parts; the chief of which were the porticoes, eleothesium, palæstra, consiliorium, &c.
Athens had several gymnasia, of which the lyceum, academia, and cynosarges, were those of most note.
The lyceum was seated on the banks of the river Ilissus; and received its name from Apollo, to whom it was dedicated. This was the place where Aristotle taught philosophy, walking there every day till the hour of anointing: whence he and his followers were named Peripatetics.
The academy was part of the Ceramicus without the city, where Plato lectured.
The cynosarges was allotted for the populace.