List of Classical Philologists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

The list of Classical Philologists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz provides an overview of the professors in the field of Classical Philology who worked at the University of Mainz .

overview

The seminar for Classical Philology was established when the University of Mainz was founded in the summer of 1946 with two full professors: Wilhelm Suss as a Latinist and Franz Dirlmeier as a Graecist. In its first years, the effects of the Second World War made work at the seminar difficult : there was no seminar library, no permanent seminar rooms and the living conditions for students and professors were difficult. For some time, the two professors Suss and Dirlmeier neither had their own apartment nor their own library. Suss took part in his Latin courses mainly because of his solid knowledge of the Latin language, which was also expressed in virtuoso oral communication. He founded the tradition of spoken Latin at the University of Mainz, which continued into the 21st century.

The situation changed only gradually in the course of the currency reform (1948). The seminar library was significantly expanded , especially through the acquisition of the libraries of the ancient historians Ernst Fabricius (1949, from the estate) and Felix Jacoby (1956). By 1972 the book inventory had grown to 23,000 copies.

The academic teaching was supported in the first few years by teachers from the neighboring high schools. In 1950 an assistant position was set up at the seminar, which the Prague refugee Martin Sicherheitsl held for a number of years. After Wilhelm Süß retired (1950) and Dirlmeier left for Würzburg (1951), the professorships for Latin and Greek studies were filled with Andreas Thierfelder and Walter Marg , who both stayed in Mainz until their retirement. During this second phase of Mainz Classical Philology , a lecturer was hired to teach Latin and Greek to students from all faculties (1950), the Latin senior seminar was set up (1951) and, with Erich Reitzenstein, a third full professorship for Classical Philology was created in 1960. The assistant position was supplemented by two further assistant positions in 1960 and 1963. The three assistants Andreas Spira , Klaus Sallmann and Walter Nicolai were appointed professors in 1972/1973, so that six professors of Classical Philology worked at the seminar until the 1990s. Currently (as of January 2013), in addition to the three professors in Greek and Latin studies, there are also a junior professor, four academic advisors, 3 assistants and several lecturers.

The regular excursions with the students to nearby museums and ancient sites as well as to the Mediterranean countries, contacts to researchers abroad and the invitation of foreign students to Mainz, theater performances of ancient dramas (especially under the direction of the professor) developed into characteristics of the Mainz seminar for classical philology Jürgen Blänsdorf ) and the spoken Latin.

List of Classical Philologists

The first column shows the name of the person and their life data, the second column shows entry into the university, and the third column shows their departure. Column four names the highest position achieved at the University of Mainz. At other universities, the corresponding lecturer may have made an even more extensive scientific career. The next column names special features, the career path or other information relating to the university or the seminar. In the last column there are pictures of the lecturers.

scientist from to Functions Remarks image Franz Dirlmeier (1904–1977) 1946 1951 Full professor Founding professor for Greek studies, moved to Würzburg Wilhelm Suess (1882–1969) 1946 1950 Full professor Founding professor for Latin studies, previously full professor in Breslau; excellent knowledge of the Latin language and propagator of spoken Latin Martin Sicherheitsl (1914-2007) 1950 1967 Private lecturer first assistant (from 1957 senior assistant) at the seminar, qualified as a professor in 1955; moved to Münster as full professor Andreas Thierfelder (1903–1986) 1950 1971 Full professor Successor to Suss; Specialist in Latin poetry and prose Hans Becker (1888–1964) 1950 1957 Honorary professor High school teacher and ministerial director in the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Culture; initially lecturer, from 1952 honorary professor for didactics of ancient languages Hans Joachim Mette (1906–1986) 1951 1953 Chair representative Lecturer in Hamburg, deputy chair for Greek studies Walter Marg (1910–1983) 1953 1974 Full professor Successor to Dirlmeier; Specialist in early Greek poetry and prose; translated Hesiod, Herodotus and Ovid; Editor and publisher of the Gnomon Heinz Munding (1923-2004) 1955 1958 Editor gave courses for students from all faculties; switched to high school service Manfred Erren (* 1928) 1957 1959 assistant moved to Freiburg Georg Luck (1926-2013) 1958 1962 Editor gave courses for students from all faculties, completed his habilitation in 1960; moved to Bonn as a full professor Andreas Spira (1929-2004) 1959 1995 professor Assistant, qualified as a professor in 1967, scientific advisor and professor in 1972; Specialist in Greek tragedy and patristics Erich Reitzenstein (1897–1976) 1960 1965 Full professor after escaping from Halle (1958) personal professor for classical philology, especially Latin studies; Specialist in Greek philosophy and ancient literary theories Klaus Sallmann (* 1934) 1960 1999 professor Assistant, qualified as a professor in 1968, scientific advisor and professor in 1972; Specialist in Roman literature (Lucretius, Augustan poetry, Pliny the Elder, Censorinus) and spoken Latin Gebhard Kurz (* 1933) 1962 1998 Academic Director Lecturer; gave courses for students from all faculties Walter Nicolai (1933-2018) 1963 1998 professor Assistant, habilitation in 1971, scientific advisor and professor in 1973; Specialist in Greek literature (Homer, Hesiod, Herodotus, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides) Willy Schetter (1928–1992) 1965 1972 Full professor Successor to Reitzenstein, specialist in Roman literature of the imperial era; moved to Bonn Eilhard Schlesinger (1909–1968) 1966 1968 Honorary professor returned emigrant, specialist in Greek tragedy and philosophy Dietram Müller (* 1941) 1969 2006 extraordinary professor Assistant, doctorate in 1972, Academic Councilor 1973, Senior Councilor in 1980, Academic Director in 1988, qualified as a professor in 1990, apl. Specialist in Greek historiography and modern Greek literature Udo Reinhardt (* 1942) 1969 2007 Academic Director Assistant, doctorate in 1972, academic councilor in 1974, habilitation in 2003; Specialist in reception history Jürgen Blänsdorf (* 1936) 1971 2004 Full professor Successor of Thierfelder, specialist in ancient stage poetry (Plautus) and philosophy Antonie Wlosok (1930-2013) 1973 1998 Ordinaria Successor to Schetters, first female professor in her subject at the University of Mainz; Specialist in church history, late antiquity and reception history Joachim Latacz (* 1934) 1978 1981 Full professor Successor to Margs, specialist in Greek epic; moved to the University of Basel Arbogast Schmitt (* 1944) 1981 1991 Full professor Successor to Latacz, specialist in Greek literature (Homer, Plato, stage poetry); moved to Marburg Christoph Riedweg (* 1957) 1993 1996 Full professor Successor to Schmitt, specialist in Greek poetry, philosophy and the history of religion; moved to Zurich Jochen Althoff (* 1962) 1998 Full professor Successor to Riedweg, specialist in ancient science Wilhelm Blümer (* 1959) 2001 Full professor Successor to Wlosok Christine Walde (* 1960) 2005 Ordinaria Successor to Blänsdorf, specialist in literature from the late republic and the early imperial era as well as in ancient cultural studies Tamara Choitz (* 1958) 2009 Extraordinary professor Didactic specialist

Chair holder

First Ordinariate (Greek Studies):

1. Franz Dirlmeier (1946–1951)
2. Walter Marg (1953–1974)
3. Joachim Latacz (1978–1981)
4. Arbogast Schmitt (1981–1991)
5. Christoph Riedweg (1993–1996)
6. Jochen Althoff (since 1998)

Second Ordinariate (Latin Studies I):

1. Wilhelm Suess (1946–1950)
2. Andreas Thierfelder (1950–1971)
3. Jürgen Blänsdorf (1971-2004)
4. Christine Walde (since 2005)

Third Ordinariate (Latin Studies II):

1. Erich Reitzenstein (1960–1965), personal professor
2. Willy Schetter (1965–1972)
3. Antonie Wlosok (1973–1998)
4. Wilhelm Blümer (since 2001)

literature

• Andreas Thierfelder: The Seminar for Classical Philology 1946–1972 . In: Hermann Weber (Ed.): Tradition and Presence. Studies and sources on the history of the University of Mainz. Part II, 2nd half volume: Institutes of the Philosophical Faculty 1946–1972 , Wiesbaden 1977. pp. 12–25.

Web links

• Current member of the Department of Classical Philology