Academus (/ˌækəˈdiːməs/; Ancient Greek: Ἀκάδημος, romanized: Akádemos), also Hecademus (Ancient Greek: Ἑκάδημος, romanized: Hekádemos), was an Attic hero in Greek mythology. The site of Academus, either a grove or a park, which became known as Akademeia, lies on the Cephissus, six stadia from Athens. He is the namesake of the Academy founded by Plato, who taught his students at the site, and as such of the modern English word academy, signifying an institution of higher learning.[1]