{
  "id": 11227487,
  "title": "School Where Aristotle Taught Alexander the Great Uncovered in New Excavations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/school-where-aristotle-taught-alexander-the-great-uncovered-in-new",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-01T15:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/10/01/new-excavations-school-alexander-great/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New archaeological excavations in northern Greece have uncovered the ancient gymnasium where Aristotle reportedly tutored Alexander the Great. The Royal Gymnasium of ancient Mieza dates to the 4th century BC and was built during the reign of Alexander's father, Philip II. The complex, which spans about 3 hectares, has revealed lecture rooms, banquet halls, and architectural features that support the identification of the site as Aristotle's school. One prominent feature is a covered running track measuring about 200 meters. Recent excavations have focused on the eastern side of the complex, where researchers found stone benches and a large three-part structure with two banquet halls. Mosaic floors in these banquet halls showcase raised platforms, suggesting where dining couches once stood. The mosaics resemble those found at the royal palace of Aigai, adding further evidence to the gymnasium's connection with the Macedonian royal environment. Additionally, architectural elements such as Ionic friezes, columns, and a Doric corner architrave fragment were discovered, which will help reconstruct the gymnasium's architectural layout. The excavation also uncovered pottery, coins, and writing styluses, supporting the site's educational function. The connection between Mieza and Aristotle and Alexander is based on ancient literary accounts and modern archaeological research. Plutarch wrote that Philip II invited Aristotle to educate his son and other young Macedonian nobles at a location near Mieza. More recent archaeological research has identified the monumental gymnasium as the likely location of the institution described in the ancient sources. While the identified rooms do not bear inscriptions naming Aristotle or Alexander, the identification rests on the relationship between the physical remains and ancient literary accounts. The gymnasium's date, scale, architecture, and combination of athletic and teaching facilities all support its role as a major educational institution for young Macedonian elites. Excavations have revealed that the gymnasium functioned as a place for organized teaching, as evidenced by stone benches designed for students and athletic facilities. The banquet halls, with their mosaic floors and raised platforms, indicate that formal communal gatherings took place within the complex. The architectural similarities between the gymnasium and the palace of Aigai further reinforce the site's connection with the Macedonian court. Despite suffering extensive damage under Roman rule, substantial remains of the gymnasium were recovered beneath destruction layers and fire deposits. The discoveries do not confirm that every room was used for Aristotle's teaching activities, but they do add to the growing evidence supporting the gymnasium's role as the site where Aristotle taught Alexander and other young Macedonians.",
  "summary": "New archaeological excavations at an ancient gymnasium in northern Greece have revealed lecture rooms, mosaic-floored banquet halls and architectural features that reinforce the identification of the complex as the site where Aristotle tutored Alexander the Great. The Royal Gymnasium of ancient Mieza, near the modern city of Naousa, dates to the middle of the 4th […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}