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Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileThe central figures are Plato, holding his Timaeus and pointing toward the heavens, and Aristotle, holding his Ethics and gesturing toward the earth. They are surrounded by historical thinkers such as Pythagoras working on a tablet, Euclid demonstrating geometry with a compass, and Diogenes lounging on the steps. The scene is set within a vast, barrel-vaulted architectural space inspired by Roman baths and the burgeoning design of St. Peter's Basilica.
This fresco represents the harmony between different schools of thought, particularly the synthesis of Neoplatonism and Aristotelianism that defined the intellectual climate of the Renaissance Papal court. It serves as a visual manifestation of the 'prisca theologia' or ancient wisdom, linking classical philosophy directly to the foundations of Western knowledge.
TImEO ETI[CA]
Translation
Timaeus Ethics
Plato
Depicted in the center holding his dialogue Timaeus, representing the metaphysical and cosmological branch of philosophy.
Aristotle
Depicted in the center holding his Nicomachean Ethics, representing the empirical and ethical branch of philosophy.
Marsilio Ficino
The inclusion of diverse ancient thinkers reflects the Neoplatonic revival and the 'Ancient Theology' movement championed by Ficino.
Object
Fresco
allegory
Digital Source
Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Raphael, School of Athens, 1509-11. detail, Vatican Museums (2)
5398 × 3534 px
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 2, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.