Athenis Finlandiae in Jyväskylä 22.-29.08.2009

The programme for this event is a mixture of art, science, culture and entertainment in the beautiful lake setting of Central Finland.

Athenis Finlandiae translates “In the Athens of Finland”. But why “Athens”; why not, for example, “Sparta”? The explanation can be found in the literary history of the 19th century. Elias Lönnroth, a patriotic poet and a skilful coiner of new words, in his letter to another Fennoman, Wolmar Styrbjörn Schildt, addressed his friend with these words: “You Schildt, there in Jyväskylä, the Athens of Finland and the cradle of arts and sciences...” Schildt himself had just developed the Finnish terms for the words “science” and “arts”.

This humorous reference to Athens began to become reality, as the first Finnish-language lyceum for boys, a school for girls, a teacher training college, a university summer school and a pedagogical institute of higher education - later university - where established in Jyväskylä. “Jyväskylä Summer”, a festival dating back to the nineteen seventies, started a series of events that now can be found in almost every self-respecting city or vil-lage in Finland throughout the summer.

Athenis Finlandiae is a unique event dedicated to the beautiful Finnish summer and the Latin language in Europe. It takes place in the middle of Central Finland’s lake district under the August moon - LUCENTE LUNA AUGUSTA – on 22th -29th August, 2009.

Text from the web pages of the event: http://www.athenisfinlandiae.com/