Source of the sciences, nursery of knowledge. Thus the Licterae generales, which in 1224 announced the establishment of the Neapolitan Studium, encapsulates the essence of the mission of the world's oldest state university. So it reads on the pediment of the headquarters of the University of Naples Federico II, named after the Swabian emperor who founded it: 'Ad scientiarum haustum et seminarium doctrinarum' ("for the inculcation of the sciences and the dissemination of knowledge"). It was on June 5, most likely, 799 years ago. The Italian University is celebrating the centuries-old anniversary with a series of initiatives starting precisely on Monday, June 5. The celebration of this "Happy Birthday Federico II" anniversary has been a well-established event since 2015, marking the life of the academic community in view of the eight centuries to come in 2024.
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