On the northeastern slope of the Areopagus, archaeological excavations uncovered the remains of four large houses called A, B, C or Omega, and D. These residences, dating back to the late 4th century CE, shared several common features and were thought to have belonged to philosophers. This interpretation was primarily based on their resemblance to the house of the philosopher Proclus on the southern slopes of the Acropolis.
Apart from their impressively large size (covering an area from 1000 to 1800 square metres), all the houses have peristyle courtyards and a large semi-circular or rectangular room with niches for the placement of statues, flanked by smaller rooms. In some of these houses, the archaeological findings led researchers to identify certain spaces as domestic shrines. The most luxurious house, the Omega, had three peristyle courtyards with marble columns, around which the rooms were arranged. Inside, there were marble-covered floors, mosaics, walls with marble revetments and a bath, while multitude of statues that adorned the residence were found in good condition inside two wells.
The identification of these houses as philosophical schools was also supported by the reference of Eunapius, a 4th century CE writer, who mentions that the Sophists conducted lessons in their houses, in appropriately designed rooms, and that the students used to reside there. Therefore, the organisation of spaces in these houses, with the large rooms serving as teaching areas and some of the smaller ones as private rooms, supports the view that they functioned as educational institutions.
During the 4th century in Athens, a city with a deeply rooted philosophical tradition, educational centres operated, led by Sophists and philosophers that formed a socially powerful class with political and economic influence. Especially renowned among them was the school founded in the late 4th century CE by the sophist Plutarch, who represented Neoplatonism, a philosophical movement based on Plato’s thought. People from across the Empire, regardless of their religion, flocked to the city to study philosophy and rhetoric, bringing fame and financial benefits to the teachers. Philosophers and sophists charged high tuition fees, while some of them received grants from the empire or from wealthy citizens. Thus, the heads of these schools became the representatives of the intellectual aristocracy of the time.
From literary sources, we are informed that violent incidents often occurred between the students of renowned sophists, who tried to approach and lead the new students to the schools of their teachers, resulting in interventions by the city authorities. As teaching became increasingly challenging in open spaces due to the disturbances, coupled with the intense building activity in Athens in the early 5th century CE, many large and luxurious private houses of philosophers and sophists were converted into educational institutions.
Meanwhile, however, the laws issued by the Empire promoting Christianity, restricted tolerance towards pagan religions. This culminated in 529 CE, when Emperor Justinian issued an edict that banned the teaching of philosophy in Athens. Many teachers were exiled and their properties were confiscated. In the Omega house, which was reconstructed in the early 6th century CE, a mosaic with pagan representations was replaced with slabs forming a cross-shaped motif and many of the sculptures of the villa were placed in the wells, as mentioned above. Scholars believe that the luxurious mansion, which had served as an educational institution for a wealthy teacher in the previous century, was abandoned by its pagan occupants. Prior to their departure, they carefully hid the sculptures in the wells and the property likely passed on to a Christian, possibly to a prominent figure within the new religion.
