List of Classical Philologists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
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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 .
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.
High school teacher and ministerial director in the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Culture; initially lecturer, from 1952 honorary professor for didactics of ancient languages
after escaping from Halle (1958) personal professor for classical philology, especially Latin studies; Specialist in Greek philosophy and ancient literary theories
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
Assistant, habilitation in 1971, scientific advisor and professor in 1973; Specialist in Greek literature (Homer, Hesiod, Herodotus, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides)
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
Successor to Schetters, first female professor in her subject at the University of Mainz; Specialist in church history, late antiquity and reception history
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.