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The theatrical stage for our Athenæum (pronounced ‘ath-uh-NAY-um’) Club is modeled after the parlour of a traditional 19th century London Club (sometimes called ‘Gentlemen’s Clubs’, although we reject that limiting terminology!).

Although there is an actual Athenæum Club in London founded in 1824, our representation is more inspired by important aspects of that establishment, rather than being a recreation of it: the London Athenæum Club actually has as its members both men and women (although it was not until 2002 that women were admitted as full members!).

The term ‘Athenæum‘ can imply any literary or scientific association (or perhaps, the building in which associated activities take place). One will find the term applied to organizations and groups around the world.

It is inspired by the Greek goddess Athena, the goddess of wisdom and of warfare. If those two appellations sound contradictory, it must be understood that the Greeks recognized different types of warfare! The brutal and chaotic aspects are represented by the male god Ares, while Athena represents the strategic and disciplined sides of conflict, the defender of homes and cities and the mentor of heroes! Besides wisdom and strategic warfare, Athena keeps quite busy as the goddess of courage, civilization, law and justice, handicraft, and the arts, and is also associated with science, literature and mathematics!

In Roman usage The Athenæum was a school dedicated to the study of arts, literature, and science. It is this later definition that best describes the mission of our Athenæum Club.