Wilhelm Adolf Becker
Encyclopedia
Wilhelm Adolf Becker was a German
classical
scholar.
, the son of German art historian, numismatist and author Wilhelm Gottlieb Becker
. At first destined for a commercial life, he was in 1812 sent to the celebrated school at Pforta
. In 1816 he entered the University of Leipzig
, where he studied under Beck
and Hermann
. After holding subordinate posts at Zerbst
and Meissen
, he was in 1842 appointed professor of archaeology at Leipzig. He died at Meissen
on 30 September 1846.
The works by which Becker is most widely known are the Gallus, oder, römische Scenen aus der Zeit Augusts: zur genaueren Kenntniss des römischen Privatlebens (1838, new ed. by Hermann Göll, 1880–1882), and the Charicles: Bilder altgriechischer Sitte, zur genaueren Kenntniss des griechischen Privatlebens (1840, new ed. by Göll, 1877–1878). These two books, which have been translated into English by Frederick Metcalfe, contain a very interesting description of the everyday life of the ancient Greeks and Romans
, in the form of a romance. The notes and appendixes are valuable.
More important is the great Handbuch der römischen Alterthümer (1843–1868), completed after Becker's death by Marquardt
and Mommsen
. Becker's treatises De Comicis Romanorum Fabulis, a treatise on Roman dramatic poetry (1837); De Romae Veteris Muris atque Portis (1842); Die römische Topographie in Röm (1844); and Zur römischen Topographie (1845) may also be mentioned.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
classical
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
scholar.
Biography
He was born at DresdenDresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
, the son of German art historian, numismatist and author Wilhelm Gottlieb Becker
Wilhelm Gottlieb Becker
Wilhelm Gottlieb Becker was a German art historian, numismatist, and author.-Biography:He was educated at Leipzig. He became professor at the Ritterakademie in Dresden in 1782...
. At first destined for a commercial life, he was in 1812 sent to the celebrated school at Pforta
Pforta
Pforta, or Schulpforta, is a former Cistercian monastery, Pforta Abbey , near Naumburg on the Saale River in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is now a celebrated German public boarding school, called Landesschule Pforta...
. In 1816 he entered the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, where he studied under Beck
Christian Daniel Beck
Christian Daniel Beck was a German philologist, historian, theologian and antiquarian, one of the most learned men of his time.-Biography:...
and Hermann
Johann Gottfried Jakob Hermann
Johann Gottfried Jakob Hermann was a German classical scholar and philologist.-Biography:He was born at Leipzig. Entering its university at the age of fourteen, Hermann at first studied law, which he soon abandoned for the classics...
. After holding subordinate posts at Zerbst
Zerbst
Zerbst is a town in the district of Anhalt-Bitterfeld, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Until the administrative reform of 2007, Zerbst was the capital of the Anhalt-Zerbst district. Since the 1 January 2010 local government reform, Zerbst has about 24,000 inhabitants.It is not clear when was it founded;...
and Meissen
Meissen
Meissen is a town of approximately 30,000 about northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche...
, he was in 1842 appointed professor of archaeology at Leipzig. He died at Meissen
Meissen
Meissen is a town of approximately 30,000 about northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche...
on 30 September 1846.
The works by which Becker is most widely known are the Gallus, oder, römische Scenen aus der Zeit Augusts: zur genaueren Kenntniss des römischen Privatlebens (1838, new ed. by Hermann Göll, 1880–1882), and the Charicles: Bilder altgriechischer Sitte, zur genaueren Kenntniss des griechischen Privatlebens (1840, new ed. by Göll, 1877–1878). These two books, which have been translated into English by Frederick Metcalfe, contain a very interesting description of the everyday life of the ancient Greeks and Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, in the form of a romance. The notes and appendixes are valuable.
More important is the great Handbuch der römischen Alterthümer (1843–1868), completed after Becker's death by Marquardt
Joachim Marquardt
Karl Joachim Marquardt was a German historian and writer on Roman antiquities.-Biography:Marquardt was born at Danzig ....
and Mommsen
Theodor Mommsen
Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen was a German classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, politician, archaeologist, and writer generally regarded as the greatest classicist of the 19th century. His work regarding Roman history is still of fundamental importance for contemporary research...
. Becker's treatises De Comicis Romanorum Fabulis, a treatise on Roman dramatic poetry (1837); De Romae Veteris Muris atque Portis (1842); Die römische Topographie in Röm (1844); and Zur römischen Topographie (1845) may also be mentioned.