Lyceum

Lyceum, gymnasium near ancient Athens

Lyceum (līsē`əm), gymnasium near ancient Athens. There Aristotle taught; hence the extension of the term lyceum to Aristotle's school of philosophers, the Peripatetics.

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lyceum, 19th-century American educational association

lyceum (līsē`əm, lī`–), 19th-century American association for popular instruction of adults by lectures, concerts, and other methods. Lyceum groups were concerned with the dissemination of information on the arts, sciences, history, and public affairs. The National American Lyceum (1831) developed from the lectures given by Josiah Holbrook at the first lyceum group in Millbury, Mass. (1826). The movement spread through groups formed in other states and was a powerful force in adult education, social reform, and political discussion. Many of the ablest leaders of the time lectured to lyceum audiences, and public interest in general education was greatly stimulated by the movement. The lyceum movement waned after the Civil War, but much of its work was later taken up by the Chautauqua movement.

Bibliography

See C. Bode, The American Lyceum (1956, repr. 1968).

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lyceum

A building for general education by means of public discussions, lectures, concerts, etc.

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Lyceum 

an ancient Greek philosophical school near Athens, founded by Aristotle and existing for about eight centuries. The school received its name from the temple of Apollo Lyceius, near which stood the gymnasium where Aristotle taught in the last years of his life (335–323 B.C.).