Archaeologists find 2,400-year-old school linked to Aristotle, Alexander the Great

Archaeologists find 2,400-year-old school linked to Aristotle, Alexander the Great (Image credit: Copyright Hellenic Ministry of Culture) Archaeologists in Greece say they have uncovered the ancient school where Aristotle is believed to have taught a teenage Alexander the Great nearly 2,400 years ago. The sprawling complex was found at ancient Mieza in northern Greece and dates to the fourth century BC, during the reign of Alexander's father, Philip II of Macedon. And this wasn't anything like a modern classroom. Excavations have revealed a lecture hall with stone desks alongside a stadium, sporting arena, covered walkway and two banquet halls. The halls even had colourful mosaic floors and raised areas where couches were once placed. Among the smaller discoveries were coins, pottery and four writing styluses: tools students would have used for writing. Archaeologist Angeliki Kottaridi, who is leading the excavations, believes the complex is the Royal Gymnasium where Aristotle educated Alexander and other young members of Macedonia's elite. Ancient sources already placed Aristotle's school at Mieza. The Greek philosopher was invited by Philip II around 343 BC to tutor his teenage son. Alexander would later become king of Macedonia and build an empire stretching from Greece to Egypt and India before his death at 32. The newly uncovered complex also shares architectural similarities with the royal palace at Aigai, where Alexander and his father lived. There is no inscription saying that Aristotle stood in a particular classroom or that Alexander used one of the styluses found there. But its age, location, size and links to the Macedonian royal court have strengthened the case that archaeologists have finally identified the school where the future conqueror was educated.