August Immanuel Bekker (21 May 1785 – 7 June 1871) was a German philologist and critic.
August Immanuel Bekker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August Immanuel Bekker 21 May 1785 |
| Died | 7 June 1871 (aged 86) |
| Education | University of Halle |
Biography
Born in Berlin, Bekker completed his classical education at the University of Halle under Friedrich August Wolf, who considered him as his most promising pupil. In 1810 he was appointed professor of philosophy in the University of Berlin. For several years, between 1810 and 1821, he travelled in France, Italy, England and parts of Germany, examining classical manuscripts and gathering materials for his great editorial labours.
Some of the fruits of his researches were published in the (3 vols, 1814–1821), but the major results are to be found in the enormous array of classical authors edited by him. His industry extended to nearly the whole of Greek literature with the exception of the tragedians and lyric poets. His best known editions are those of Plato (1816–1823), Oratores Attici (1823–1824), Aristotle (1831–1836), Aristophanes (1829), and twenty-five volumes of the Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae. The only Latin authors edited by him were Livy (1829–1830) and Tacitus (1831).
Bekker confined himself entirely to manuscript investigations and textual criticism; he contributed little to the extension of other types of scholarship.Bekker numbers have become the standard way of referring to the works of Aristotle and the Corpus Aristotelicum. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1861. He died in Berlin aged 86.
Works
- Ducas, Michael, Ducae : Michaelis Ducae Nepotis Historia Byzantina, ed. by Bekker, August Immanuel (Bonn: Weber, 1834).
- Khoniátis, Nikítas, Narrattive of Events after the Capture of the City [by the Franks], ed. by Bekker, August Immanuel (Bonn: Weber, 1835).
- Phrantzis, G., Chronicon, ed. by Bekker, August Immanuel (Bonn: Weber, 1838).
- Khalkokondhýlis, ‘Laónikos' (i.e. Nikólaos), De Origine et Rebus Gestis Turcarum, ed. by Bekker, August Immanuel (Bonn: Weber, 1843).
- Attaleiátis, Michael, Historia, ed. by Bekker, August Immanuel (Bonn: Weber, 1853).
Notes
- Chisholm 1911, p. 661.
- Vol. 1. Lexica Segueriana 1814 (e.g. Δικῶν ὀνόματα, pp. 181–194; Λέξεις ῥητορικαί, pp. 195–318 etc) – v. 2. Apollonii Alexandrini de coniunctionibus (p. 477) et de adverbiis (p. 527) libri. Dionysii Thracis Grammatica (p. 627). Choerobosci, Diomedis, Melampodis, Porphyrii, Stephani in eam scholia (pp. 645–927). Berolini: apud G. Reimerum 1816 – v. 3. Theodosii canones (p. 975). Editoris annotatio critica (p. 1065). Indices (pp. 1299–1466). Berolini: Typis et impensis G. Reimeri 1821.
- Bekker oversaw the series from 1831, following Barthold G. Niebuhr's death. However, he never enjoyed the job. Dieter R. Reinsch noted that he wrote prefaces only to those authors he thought "worth", and in any case never exceeding a single page which he used to utter all his displeasure. The CFHB volumes edited by Bekker became infamous for the misprints and errors and August Heisenberg, according to Franz Dölger, once said that he must have revised those texts 'lying on the sofa with the cigar in his mouth'. See Reinsch, Dieter Roderich (2010). "Editing Byzantine historiographical texts". In Robinson, Paul (ed.). The Byzantine World. London – New York: Routledge. p. 441. ISBN 978-0-415-44010-3.
- "Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter B" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
References
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bekker, August Immanuel". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 661. Endnotes:
- H. Sauppe, Zur Erinnerung an Meineke und Bekker (1872);
- M. Haupt, “Gedächtnisrede auf Meineke und Bekker”, in his Opuscula, iii.;
- Ernst Immanuel Bekker, “Zur Erinnerung an meinen Vater”, in the Preußische Jahrbücher, vol. 29 (Berlin 1872).
Further reading
- Apollonii Dyscoli de Pronomine liber, ed. I. Bekker, Berolini 1813.
- Apollonii Alexandrini de Constructione Orationis libri quatuor ex rec. I. Bekkeri, Berolini 1817.
- Aristotelis Opera edidit Academia Regia Borussica, Berlin, 1831–1870. (5 volumes).
External links
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Media related to August Immanuel Bekker at Wikimedia Commons- Guide to the Immanuel Bekker Papers 1806–1853 at the University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center
August Immanuel Bekker 21 May 1785 7 June 1871 was a German philologist and critic August Immanuel BekkerBornAugust Immanuel Bekker 1785 05 21 21 May 1785Died7 June 1871 1871 06 07 aged 86 EducationUniversity of HalleBiographyBorn in Berlin Bekker completed his classical education at the University of Halle under Friedrich August Wolf who considered him as his most promising pupil In 1810 he was appointed professor of philosophy in the University of Berlin For several years between 1810 and 1821 he travelled in France Italy England and parts of Germany examining classical manuscripts and gathering materials for his great editorial labours Some of the fruits of his researches were published in the 3 vols 1814 1821 but the major results are to be found in the enormous array of classical authors edited by him His industry extended to nearly the whole of Greek literature with the exception of the tragedians and lyric poets His best known editions are those of Plato 1816 1823 Oratores Attici 1823 1824 Aristotle 1831 1836 Aristophanes 1829 and twenty five volumes of the Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae The only Latin authors edited by him were Livy 1829 1830 and Tacitus 1831 Bekker confined himself entirely to manuscript investigations and textual criticism he contributed little to the extension of other types of scholarship Bekker numbers have become the standard way of referring to the works of Aristotle and the Corpus Aristotelicum He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1861 He died in Berlin aged 86 WorksDucas Michael Ducae Michaelis Ducae Nepotis Historia Byzantina ed by Bekker August Immanuel Bonn Weber 1834 Khoniatis Nikitas Narrattive of Events after the Capture of the City by the Franks ed by Bekker August Immanuel Bonn Weber 1835 Phrantzis G Chronicon ed by Bekker August Immanuel Bonn Weber 1838 Khalkokondhylis Laonikos i e Nikolaos De Origine et Rebus Gestis Turcarum ed by Bekker August Immanuel Bonn Weber 1843 Attaleiatis Michael Historia ed by Bekker August Immanuel Bonn Weber 1853 NotesChisholm 1911 p 661 Vol 1 Lexica Segueriana 1814 e g Dikῶn ὀnomata pp 181 194 Le3eis ῥhtorikai pp 195 318 etc v 2 Apollonii Alexandrini de coniunctionibus p 477 et de adverbiis p 527 libri Dionysii Thracis Grammatica p 627 Choerobosci Diomedis Melampodis Porphyrii Stephani in eam scholia pp 645 927 Berolini apud G Reimerum 1816 v 3 Theodosii canones p 975 Editoris annotatio critica p 1065 Indices pp 1299 1466 Berolini Typis et impensis G Reimeri 1821 Bekker oversaw the series from 1831 following Barthold G Niebuhr s death However he never enjoyed the job Dieter R Reinsch noted that he wrote prefaces only to those authors he thought worth and in any case never exceeding a single page which he used to utter all his displeasure The CFHB volumes edited by Bekker became infamous for the misprints and errors and August Heisenberg according to Franz Dolger once said that he must have revised those texts lying on the sofa with the cigar in his mouth See Reinsch Dieter Roderich 2010 Editing Byzantine historiographical texts In Robinson Paul ed The Byzantine World London New York Routledge p 441 ISBN 978 0 415 44010 3 Book of Members 1780 2010 Chapter B PDF American Academy of Arts and Sciences Retrieved 30 May 2011 References This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Bekker August Immanuel Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 3 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 661 Endnotes H Sauppe Zur Erinnerung an Meineke und Bekker 1872 M Haupt Gedachtnisrede auf Meineke und Bekker in his Opuscula iii Ernst Immanuel Bekker Zur Erinnerung an meinen Vater in the Preussische Jahrbucher vol 29 Berlin 1872 Further readingApollonii Dyscoli de Pronomine liber ed I Bekker Berolini 1813 Apollonii Alexandrini de Constructione Orationis libri quatuor ex rec I Bekkeri Berolini 1817 Aristotelis Opera edidit Academia Regia Borussica Berlin 1831 1870 5 volumes External linksMedia related to August Immanuel Bekker at Wikimedia Commons Guide to the Immanuel Bekker Papers 1806 1853 at the University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center
