Ernst Fabricius
Encyclopedia
Ernst Christian Andreas Martin Fabricius (Darmstadt
, 6 September 1857 – Freiburg im Breisgau, 22 March 1942) was a German historian, archaeologist and classical scholar. Between 1882 and 1888 he participated in excavations in Greece and Asia Minor and also pioneered German research on the Roman Empire border defenses known as the Limes Germanicus
.
. In 1881 he received a doctorate in 'Comprehensive Greek Architecture' from the University of Bonn
. His teachers included Adolf Michaelis
, Rudolf Schöll, Heinrich Nissen
and Hermann Usener
. As a fellow of the German Archaeological Institute
, along with geographer Heinrich Kiepert
, he visited Italy
, Greece
and Asia Minor
. In 1886 he was appointed professor of classical philology, archeology and ancient history at the University of Berlin. Subsequently, he participated in excavations in Greece and Asia Minor, specifically at Pergamon
, Lesbos, Samos
and Crete
.
From 1888 until his retirement (1926) he was professor of ancient history at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg
, and the University of Freiburg
in Breisgau
.
At the University of Freiburg, Fabricius was the dean of the college, rector
(1810 - 11), and Chairman of the Committee for the construction of the new universities. In 1902 he was appointed President of the Reichslimeskommission for the Committee on the Germanic-Rhaetian Limes
.
During his career, Fabricius was extensively involved in politics. He served in the parliament
of Baden
(Badische Ständeversammlung) from 1913 to 1918.
He was a supporter of both German colonialism and Pangermanism. For many years he was a member of the People's League for Germans Abroad (Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland) becoming president of the association in 1920.
Fabricius worked with Federico Halbherr
on the Italian archaeological mission to Crete, and was a major contributor in the excavation and study of the Gortyn Code
("Leggi di Gortina") on civil rights.
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
, 6 September 1857 – Freiburg im Breisgau, 22 March 1942) was a German historian, archaeologist and classical scholar. Between 1882 and 1888 he participated in excavations in Greece and Asia Minor and also pioneered German research on the Roman Empire border defenses known as the Limes Germanicus
Limes Germanicus
The Limes Germanicus was a line of frontier fortifications that bounded the ancient Roman provinces of Germania Inferior, Germania Superior and Raetia, dividing the Roman Empire and the unsubdued Germanic tribes from the years 83 to about 260 AD...
.
Biography
Ernst Fabricius began his university studies in StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
. In 1881 he received a doctorate in 'Comprehensive Greek Architecture' from the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
. His teachers included Adolf Michaelis
Adolf Michaelis
Adolf Michaelis was a German classical scholar, a professor of art history at the University of Strasbourg from 1872, who helped establish the connoisseurship of Ancient Greek sculpture and Roman sculpture on their modern footing...
, Rudolf Schöll, Heinrich Nissen
Heinrich Nissen
Heinrich Nissen was a German Ancient historian.-Life:Heinrich Nissen studied in Kiel and Berlin under August Boeckh and Theodor Mommsen. After graduating, he travelled in Italy between 1863 and 1867. This research was later published as the major work Italischen Landeskunde...
and Hermann Usener
Hermann Usener
Hermann Karl Usener was a German scholar in the fields of philology and comparative religion.-Life:...
. As a fellow of the German Archaeological Institute
German Archaeological Institute
The German Archaeological Institute is an institution of research within the field of archaeology , and a "scientific corporation", with parentage of the federal Foreign Office of Germany-Origin:...
, along with geographer Heinrich Kiepert
Heinrich Kiepert
Heinrich Kiepert , German geographer, was born at Berlin as the son of a wealthy businessman.Already in his youth he traveled with his parents and had a particular interest in the geographic circumstances, which he carefully sketched...
, he visited Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
. In 1886 he was appointed professor of classical philology, archeology and ancient history at the University of Berlin. Subsequently, he participated in excavations in Greece and Asia Minor, specifically at Pergamon
Pergamon
Pergamon , or Pergamum, was an ancient Greek city in modern-day Turkey, in Mysia, today located from the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus , that became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period, under the Attalid dynasty, 281–133 BC...
, Lesbos, Samos
Samoš
Samoš is a village in Serbia. It is situated in the Kovačica municipality, in the South Banat District, Vojvodina province. The village has a Serb ethnic majority and its population numbering 1,247 people .-See also:...
and Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
.
From 1888 until his retirement (1926) he was professor of ancient history at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
, and the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
in Breisgau
Breisgau
Breisgau is the name of an area in southwest Germany, placed between the river Rhine and the foothills of the Black Forest around Freiburg im Breisgau in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The district Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, which partly consists of the Breisgau, is named after that area...
.
At the University of Freiburg, Fabricius was the dean of the college, rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
(1810 - 11), and Chairman of the Committee for the construction of the new universities. In 1902 he was appointed President of the Reichslimeskommission for the Committee on the Germanic-Rhaetian Limes
Limes Germanicus
The Limes Germanicus was a line of frontier fortifications that bounded the ancient Roman provinces of Germania Inferior, Germania Superior and Raetia, dividing the Roman Empire and the unsubdued Germanic tribes from the years 83 to about 260 AD...
.
During his career, Fabricius was extensively involved in politics. He served in the parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
of Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
(Badische Ständeversammlung) from 1913 to 1918.
He was a supporter of both German colonialism and Pangermanism. For many years he was a member of the People's League for Germans Abroad (Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland) becoming president of the association in 1920.
Fabricius worked with Federico Halbherr
Federico Halbherr
Federico Halbherr was an Italian archaeologist and epigrapher, known for his excavations of Crete.-Life:...
on the Italian archaeological mission to Crete, and was a major contributor in the excavation and study of the Gortyn Code
Gortyn code
The Gortyn code was a legal code that was the codification of the civil law of the ancient Greek city-state of Gortyn in southern Crete.- History :...
("Leggi di Gortina") on civil rights.
Publications
- Federico HalbherrFederico HalbherrFederico Halbherr was an Italian archaeologist and epigrapher, known for his excavations of Crete.-Life:...
, Ernst Fabricius e Domenico ComparettiDomenico ComparettiDomenico Comparetti , Italian scholar, was born at Rome.-Life:He studied at the University of Rome La Sapienza, took his degree in 1855 in natural science and mathematics, and entered his uncle's pharmacy as assistant. His scanty leisure was, however, given to study...
, Leggi antiche della città di Gortyna in Creta. Firenze (Torino, Roma) : Loescher, 1885 - Der Limes vom Rhein bis zur Lahn. Nach den Untersuchungen der Streckenkommissare, Peters, Heidelberg 1915
- Über die Lex Mamilia Roscia Peducaea Alliena Fabia, Winter, Heidelberg 1924 (Sitzungsberichte der Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philosophisch-Historische Klasse, 1924/25, 1)
- Mitherausgeber: Der obergermanisch-raetische Limes des Roemerreiches. Im Auftrag der Reichs-Limeskommission, Peters, Berlin-Leipzig, Heidelberg 1894-1938. – Reprint Greiner, Remshalden, 2005, ISBN 978-3-935383-61-5