What is an Atheneum?

ath·e·nae·um also ath·e·ne·um n.
1. An institution, such as a literary club or scientific academy, for the promotion of learning.
2. A place, such as a library, where printed materials are available for reading.

[Late Latin Athenaeum, a Roman school, after Greek Athnaion, the temple of Athena, from Athna, Athena.]

-The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

The Athenaeum in Athens was a sanctuary of Athena (goddess of wisdom, fertility, the useful arts, and prudent warfare) built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian and frequented by poets and men of learning.

- Random House Dictionary of the English Language, 1967 Ed.

Atheneum \Ath`e*ne"um\, Athenaeum \Ath`e*n[ae]"um\, n.; pl. E. Atheneums, L. Athen[ae]a. [L. Athenaeum, Gr. 'Aqhn`aion a temple of Minerva at Athens, fr. 'Aqhna^, contr. fr. 'Aqhna`a, 'Aqhnai`a, in Homer 'Aqh`nh, 'Aqhnai`n, Athene (called Minerva by the Romans), the tutelary goddess of Athens.]

1. (Gr. Antiq.) A temple of Athene, at Athens, in which scholars and poets were accustomed to read their works and instruct students.
2. A school founded at Rome by Hadrian.
3. A literary or scientific association or club.
4. A building or an apartment where a library, periodicals, and newspapers are kept for use.

-Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.