About
Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff (1848–1931) was the most influential classical philologist of his era. Educated at Schulpforta and Bonn, he taught at Greifswald, Göttingen, and Berlin. He championed a unified conception of antiquity (Altertumswissenschaft), combining philology, history, and archaeology. His works on Homer, Greek tragedy, and Aristotle were authoritative. He directed the Inscriptiones Graecae and trained many students. His polemic against Nietzsche marked the methodological debates of his time.
* 1848-12-22 — † 1931-09-25
Major works
- Homerische Studien (1884)scholarly study
- Aristoteles und Athen (1893)two-volume study
- Einleitung in die griechische Tragödie (1906)scholarly study
- Die Ilias und Homer (1916)scholarly study
- Der Glaube der Hellenen (1931)two-volume study
Key milestones
- 1872Publishes the polemic Zukunftsphilologie! against Nietzsche.
- 1897Becomes professor at the University of Berlin, succeeding Ernst Curtius.
- 1902Becomes editorial director of the Inscriptiones Graecae.
Themes
AltertumswissenschaftHistorical-critical methodClassical philologyGreek poetryGreek religion
Sources: britannica.com · dbcs.sas.rutgers.edu · oxfordreference.com