Christian Habicht (historian)
Encyclopedia
Christian Habicht is a German historian of ancient Greece and an epigrapher
in ancient Greek.
After his Promotierung (PhD) at the University of Hamburg in 1952, Habicht was an assistant professor there and after his Habilitation degree in 1957 Privatdozent
. In 1961 he became ordentlicher professor at the University of Marburg and then in 1965 moved to the University of Heidelberg. In 1973, Habicht went as a faculty professor to the Institute for Advanced Study
in Princeton
, where he had already belonged, since the previous year, as a permanent member. At Heidelberg he remained "Honorar" professor. Since 1983 he additionally taught at Princeton University
as a visiting professor; he retired in 1998.
Habicht's work focuses on Greek epigraphy
and Athenian history in Hellenistic
times. He has written extensively on Pausanias and
Cicero.
In 1982 Habicht was Sather Professor in Classis at the University of California, Berkeley
. In 1991 he received the Reuchlin Prize of the city of Pforzheim
, in 1996 the Moe Prize of the American Philosophical Society
and in 1998 the Criticos Prize of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
in London. He is a member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences (since 1970), the German and Austrian Archaeological Institutes, the American Philosophical Society, the British Academy
. and the Academy of Athens
. Habicht was co-editor of the series of publications Hypomnemata (1962 to 1996) and the American Journal of Ancient History (1976 to 2000).
Epigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
in ancient Greek.
After his Promotierung (PhD) at the University of Hamburg in 1952, Habicht was an assistant professor there and after his Habilitation degree in 1957 Privatdozent
Privatdozent
Privatdozent or Private lecturer is a title conferred in some European university systems, especially in German-speaking countries, for someone who pursues an academic career and holds all formal qualifications to become a tenured university professor...
. In 1961 he became ordentlicher professor at the University of Marburg and then in 1965 moved to the University of Heidelberg. In 1973, Habicht went as a faculty professor to the Institute for Advanced Study
Institute for Advanced Study
The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...
in Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, where he had already belonged, since the previous year, as a permanent member. At Heidelberg he remained "Honorar" professor. Since 1983 he additionally taught at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
as a visiting professor; he retired in 1998.
Habicht's work focuses on Greek epigraphy
Epigraphy
Epigraphy Epigraphy Epigraphy (from the , literally "on-writing", is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs as writing; that is, the science of identifying the graphemes and of classifying their use as to cultural context and date, elucidating their meaning and assessing what conclusions can be...
and Athenian history in Hellenistic
Hellenistic civilization
Hellenistic civilization represents the zenith of Greek influence in the ancient world from 323 BCE to about 146 BCE...
times. He has written extensively on Pausanias and
Cicero.
In 1982 Habicht was Sather Professor in Classis at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. In 1991 he received the Reuchlin Prize of the city of Pforzheim
Pforzheim
Pforzheim is a town of nearly 119,000 inhabitants in the state of Baden-Württemberg, southwest Germany at the gate to the Black Forest. It is world-famous for its jewelry and watch-making industry. Until 1565 it was the home to the Margraves of Baden. Because of that it gained the nickname...
, in 1996 the Moe Prize of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
and in 1998 the Criticos Prize of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies
The Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, known as the Hellenic Society, was founded in 1879 to advance the study of Greek language, literature, history, art and archaeology in the Ancient, Byzantine and Modern periods....
in London. He is a member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences (since 1970), the German and Austrian Archaeological Institutes, the American Philosophical Society, the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
. and the Academy of Athens
Academy of Athens (modern)
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education...
. Habicht was co-editor of the series of publications Hypomnemata (1962 to 1996) and the American Journal of Ancient History (1976 to 2000).
Selected works
A complete bibliography of Habicht's writings up to 2002 can be found in volume 32 (2002) of the journal Chiron.- Gottmenschentum und griechische Städte. Beck, München 1956; 2. Auflage 1970.
- Altertümer von Pergamon Bd. 8, 3. Die Inschriften des Asklepieions. de Gruyter, Berlin 1969.
- Untersuchungen zur politischen Geschichte Athens im 3. Jahrhundert v. Chr. Beck, München 1979, ISBN 3-406-04800-5.
- Studien zur Geschichte Athens in hellenistischer Zeit. Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, Göttingen 1983, ISBN 3-525-25171-8.
- Pausanias und seine „Beschreibung Griechenlands“. Beck, München 1985, ISBN 3-406-30829-5.
- Cicero der Politiker. Beck, München 1990, ISBN 3-406-34355-4.
- Athen in hellenistischer Zeit. Gesammelte Aufsätze. Beck, München 1994, ISBN 3-406-38164-2.
- Athen. Die Geschichte der Stadt in hellenistischer Zeit. Beck, München 1995, ISBN 3-406-39758-1.
- The Hellenistic Monarchies: Selected Papers. University of Michigan Press 2006, ISBN 978-0-472-11109-1.
Further reading
- Kürschners deutscher Gelehrten-Kalender 2007. Saur, München 2007. Bd. 1, S. 1192.