Plethon, George Gemistos

   Philosopher from Mistra (q.v.) whose deep understanding of Plato (q.v.) inspired the Medici foundation of the Platonic Academy in Florence. His trip to Italy (q.v.) to attend the Council of Ferrara-Florence (q.v.) in 1438-1439 brought him in contact with scholars in Florence, providing an important opportunity for the transmission of Greek classical learning to the Renaissance. At Mistra he continued to teach (Laonikos Chalkonkondyles [q.v.] was one of his students) and to write. Among his works is the controversial A Treatise on the Laws, which espouses Neoplatonism (q.v.), including a belief in the Olympian gods.