Johann Wilhelm Adolf Kirchhoff (6 January 1826 – 26 February 1908) was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

classical scholar and

epigraphist Epigraphy () is the study of inscriptions, or epigraphs, as writing; it is the science of identifying graphemes, clarifying their meanings, classifying their uses according to dates and cultural contexts, and drawing conclusions about the wr ...

Biography

The son of historical painter Johann Jakob Kirchhoff, he was born in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitu ...

, and educated there. He then taught in various colleges until, in 1865, he was appointed professor of classical

philology Philology () is the study of language in oral and written historical sources; it is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history, and linguistics (with especially strong ties to etymology). Philology is also defined as ...

at the

University of Berlin Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (german: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, abbreviated HU Berlin) is a German public research university in the central borough of Mitte in Berlin. It was established by Frederick William III on the initiative ...

, where he remained for the rest of his life. Kirchhoff's scientific studies covered a wide range in linguistics, antiquities, and Greek epigraphy. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the

American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, a ...

in 1888.

Writings

*''Die Homerische Odyssee'' (1859), putting forward an entirely new theory as to the composition of the ''

Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the '' Iliad'', ...

'' *edition of

Plotinus Plotinus (; grc-gre, Πλωτῖνος, ''Plōtînos''; – 270 CE) was a philosopher in the Hellenistic tradition, born and raised in Roman Egypt. Plotinus is regarded by modern scholarship as the founder of Neoplatonism. His teacher wa ...

(1856) *edition of

Euripides Euripides (; grc, Εὐριπίδης, Eurīpídēs, ; ) was a tragedian of classical Athens. Along with Aeschylus and Sophocles, he is one of the three ancient Greek tragedians for whom any plays have survived in full. Some ancient scholars ...

(1855 and 1877–1878), the first critical edition based on a careful collation of all the manuscripts *edition of

Aeschylus Aeschylus (, ; grc-gre, Αἰσχύλος ; c. 525/524 – c. 456/455 BC) was an ancient Greek tragedian, and is often described as the father of tragedy. Academic knowledge of the genre begins with his work, and understanding of earlier Gree ...

(1880) *

Hesiod Hesiod (; grc-gre, Ἡσίοδος ''Hēsíodos'') was an ancient Greek poet generally thought to have been active between 750 and 650 BC, around the same time as Homer. He is generally regarded by western authors as 'the first written poet i ...

(''Works and Days'', 1881) *

Xenophon Xenophon of Athens (; grc, Ξενοφῶν ; – probably 355 or 354 BC) was a Greek military leader, philosopher, and historian, born in Athens. At the age of 30, Xenophon was elected commander of one of the biggest Greek mercenary armies o ...

, ''Respublica Atheniensium'' (On the Athenian Constitution; 3rd ed., 1889) *''Über die Entstehungszeit des Herodotischen Geschichtswerkes'' (2nd ed., 1878) *''Thukydides und sein Urkundenmaterial'' (1895). The following works are the result of his epigraphical and palaeographical studies: *''Die Umbrischen Sprachdenkmäler'' (1851) *''Das Stadtrecht von Bantia'' (1853), on the tablet discovered in 1790 at Oppido near

Banzi Banzi ( Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, Basilicata, southern Italy. Called ''Bantia'' in antiquity, it was the site of the find of the bronze tablet known as the Tabula Bantina The Tabula Bantina ( Latin for "Tab ...

, containing a

plebiscite A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of ...

relating to the municipal affairs of the ancient Bantia (the

Stadtrecht Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...

) *''Das Gotische Runenalphabet'' (1852) *''Die Fränkischen Runen'' (1855) *''Studien zur Geschichte des Griechischen Alphabets'' (4th ed., 1887). The second part of vol. iv. of the ''Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum'' (1859, containing the

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...

inscriptions) and vol. i. of the ''Corpus Inscriptionum Atticarum'' (1873, containing the inscriptions before 403) with supplements thereto (vol. iv. pts. 13, 1877–1891) are edited by him. From 1860 to 1902, he was in charge of the ''

Inscriptiones Graecae The ''Inscriptiones Graecae'' (IG), Latin for ''Greek inscriptions'', is an academic project originally begun by the Prussian Academy of Science, and today continued by its successor organisation, the . Its aim is to collect and publish all known ...

''. He edited ''Hermes'' (1866–81).

References

* * * ;Attribution * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kirchhoff, Adolf 1826 births 1908 deaths German classical scholars Members of the Prussian Academy of Sciences Writers from Berlin Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Recipients of the Pour le Mérite (civil class) People from the Province of Brandenburg Humboldt University of Berlin alumni Humboldt University of Berlin faculty Latin epigraphers Textual scholarship German male writers