Why Nashville, Tennessee, is Known as ‘The Athens of the South’

Of all the places in the world, would you really expect Nashville to be considered the “Athens of the South”? Whenever I mention this to people who didn’t grow up here, I always get a “Really? Not Athens, Georgia?” 

When most people think of Nashville, they think of Music City U.S.A. – with our honky tonks and Music Row. While this is a massive part of this beautiful city, there’s so much more than you’d realize.

The original Athens was known as a mecca for education, dance, and music in ancient Greece. Being named after the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, makes complete sense.