529

Justinian's closure of the philosophical school at Athens

In 529 Emperor Justinian closed the Platonic Academy at Athens, which had existed since antiquity. Through it Platonism had exerted great influence on the Hellenistic age and early Christian thought.

The school's pagan professors briefly emigrated to Persia. They then returned, having received guarantees of safety from Justinian.

The closure is traditionally read as a symbol of theology's victory over classical philosophy. The systematic study of Greek philosophy did decline. Yet theology itself continued to be shaped by the language of ancient metaphysics.