Hendrik Wagenvoort
Encyclopedia
Hendrik Wagenvoort was a Dutch classical scholar. He was professor of Latin at the University of Groningen
and Utrecht University
and published extensively on subjects relating to the Latin language and Roman religion
.
on August 23, 1886. He began studying classics at Utrecht University in 1904 and took his doctoral degree in 1911. His dissertation was called De Horatii quae dicuntur Odis Romanis and dealt with Horace
's so called Roman Odes. After a year of further studies in Göttingen
and Rome
he began teaching Latin at gymnasiums, from 1912 to 1919 in Arnhem
and from 1919 to 1924 in The Hague
. In 1924 he became professor of Latin language and literature at the University of Groningen
and during the following years he directed his efforts at examining Religion in the late Roman Republic and the early Imperial Rome. He moved to Utrecht in 1930 to succeed Pieter Helbert Damsté
(who directed Wagenvoort's doctoral dissertation) as professor of Latin. His inaugural lecture was called Pax Augusta, in line with his earlier research, but gradually his interest shifted to the religion of the earliest Rome and "primitive survivals" in later Roman religious life. In 1956, at age 70, Wagenvoort officially retired but he continued to work at the University and in other contexts.
Wagenvoort was a deacon in the Reformed Church and a member of the Commission of the Unemployed during the economic crisis of the 1930s. He also served as the president of a number of institutions including the Provincial Society of Utrecht (Provinciaal Utrechts Genootschap) and the Extra-mural University of Utrecht (Utrechtse Volksuniversiteit). Additionally, he served as judge of Hoeufftianum, an annual competition in Latin poetry.
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
and Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
and published extensively on subjects relating to the Latin language and Roman religion
Religion in ancient Rome
Religion in ancient Rome encompassed the religious beliefs and cult practices regarded by the Romans as indigenous and central to their identity as a people, as well as the various and many cults imported from other peoples brought under Roman rule. Romans thus offered cult to innumerable deities...
.
Biography
Wagenvoort was born in MinnertsgaMinnertsga
Minnertsga is a small village in Het Bildt in the province Friesland of the Netherlands and has around the 1850 citizens....
on August 23, 1886. He began studying classics at Utrecht University in 1904 and took his doctoral degree in 1911. His dissertation was called De Horatii quae dicuntur Odis Romanis and dealt with Horace
Horace
Quintus Horatius Flaccus , known in the English-speaking world as Horace, was the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus.-Life:...
's so called Roman Odes. After a year of further studies in Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
he began teaching Latin at gymnasiums, from 1912 to 1919 in Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
and from 1919 to 1924 in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. In 1924 he became professor of Latin language and literature at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
and during the following years he directed his efforts at examining Religion in the late Roman Republic and the early Imperial Rome. He moved to Utrecht in 1930 to succeed Pieter Helbert Damsté
Pieter Helbert Damsté
Pieter Helbert Damsté was a Dutch classical scholar.-Biography:Damsté was born in Wilsum as the son of preacher Barteld Roelof Damsté and Richardina Jacoba Gesina Gallé. His 1885 dissertation was called Adversaria critica ad C. Valerii Flacci Argonautica. He taught Latin at Utrecht...
(who directed Wagenvoort's doctoral dissertation) as professor of Latin. His inaugural lecture was called Pax Augusta, in line with his earlier research, but gradually his interest shifted to the religion of the earliest Rome and "primitive survivals" in later Roman religious life. In 1956, at age 70, Wagenvoort officially retired but he continued to work at the University and in other contexts.
Wagenvoort was a deacon in the Reformed Church and a member of the Commission of the Unemployed during the economic crisis of the 1930s. He also served as the president of a number of institutions including the Provincial Society of Utrecht (Provinciaal Utrechts Genootschap) and the Extra-mural University of Utrecht (Utrechtse Volksuniversiteit). Additionally, he served as judge of Hoeufftianum, an annual competition in Latin poetry.
Works and influence
Wagenvoort was influential both as a writer and as a teacher. He published a great number of articles but also directed 38 doctoral dissertations (2 in Groningen and 36 in Utrecht), an unusually high amount in the field of classical studies.Publications in English
- 1947 Roman dynamism: studies in ancient Roman thought, language and custom
- 1956 Studies in Roman literature, culture, and religion (a collection of some of Wagenvoorts own papers, presented to him on his 70th birthday)
- 1980 Pietas: selected studies in Roman religion (posthumously)