Academus

• a Grecian hero, from whom the Academia near Athens is said to have derived its name: inter silvas Academi, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 45.

(Ἀκάδημος), an Attic hero, who, when Castor and Polydeuces invaded Attica to liberate their sister Helen, betrayed to them that she was kept concealed at Aphidnae. For this reason the Tyndarids always showed him much gratitude, and whenever the Lacedaemonians invaded Attica, they always spared the land belonging to Academus which lay on the Cephissus, six stadia from Athens. (Plut. Thes. 32; D. L. 3.1.9.) This piece of land was subsequently adorned with plane and olive plantations (Plut. Cim. 13), and was called Academia from its original owner. [L.S]

• a mythical hero of Athens: silvae Academi, i. e. Academia, H.

(Ἀκάδημος). A hero, often identified with Cadmus. According to others (Plut. Thes. 32), he was an Athenian, who disclosed to Castor and Pollux the place where Theseus had secreted their sister Helen, after having carried her off from Sparta; and is said to have been highly honored, on this account, by the Lacedaemonians. From him the garden of the Academia, presented to the people of Athens, is thought to have been named. See Academia.