 The society was founded in Cosenza by Giovan Paolo Parisio ("Aulo Giano Parrasio") in late 1511 or early 1512, and was initially known as the "Accademia Parrasiana".As in other "accademie" of the time, the principal studies were of literature and philology.Following the death of Parrasio, which may have been in 1522 or in 1534, the academy came under the control of Bernardino Telesio, who gave it a more scientific and practical direction; it was known as the "Accademia Telesiana".