|
The Roman
school Hadrian, however, derived its title from the
Greek designation of a temple in Athens dedicated to the goddess
of wisdom, Athene, "where," the Encyclopedia Britannica
says, "poets and men of learning were accustomed
to meet and read their productions." In modern times,
"Athenaeum" is a term frequently used to designate schools and literary
clubs. Many a famous educational institution in Europe,
which we would probably call a university, has the
official title of "Athenaeum"--for example, the
"Athenaeum Angelicum" the Dominican center of learning in Rome.
The word "academy" would be the best English substitute for
"Athenaeum" were it not for the fact that in Philippine
and American usage "academy" connotes an institution
merely for secondary education, a High School. But so well known in the
Philippines is "Ateneo" as the official title of Jesuit
institutions of learning, that it needs no further translation.
And it is an inspiring title. It is reminiscent of
Graeco-Roman civilization, of Spanish culture, of the traditions
of liberal education, of men devoted to Divine Wisdom. Sapientia
aedificavit sibi domum.--Philippine Studies, Vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 157-158. |
