1898: August als Student
However, it was
a fortunate turn of events, when later my work got into the area of byzantine
Philology, where only those feel comfortabe who have love and understanding for
theological problems. Otherwise, in Marburg I worked primarily on germanistic
and historical studies.
After two
semesters I turned to Munich. The student from northern Germany wanted like all
his classmates get to know southern Germany, in addition
tempted me the
hope to study the works of Richard Wagner and Arnold Böcklin at their origins.
Via the recommendation of one of my teachers in Marburg I was fortunate to get
admitted to the cirle of young friend of Michael Bernays, into his seminar
which had a social extension in the academic literary club. With heartfelt
thanks I remember the riches of ideas which Bernays was able to give to his few
faithfuls, foremost his personal involvement in our studies. Fortunately I
found in Rudolf Schöll a teacher from whom you could learn aside from much fine
and hard work the strict scientific philological workmanship. At the bulletin
board of the university Karl Krumbacher, privatdocent, a two-hour class Rhodische
lovesongs . I think it was the lovesongs that primarily triggert my curiosity.
The few listeners, three or four, soon got to know the young teacher. The
middle-greek language, which I encountered here for the first time, caught
strongly my interest. Soon teacher and students met not only during the lectures
but also at other opportunities. , 
Krummbacher arranged aquaintences
with young Greeks. At that time I had french conversation hours with an old
lady, whose nephew I prepared for the Absolutorium. This way I also learned to
speak modern Greek from a young greek friend who these days is bishop in
Sparta.
After one year
my decision was firm to stay in Bavaria. One semester in Leipzig, summer
(18)90, on request of my relatives who were mightily concerned about my future
confirmed my decision. After two more semesters in Munich I acquired the Bavarian
citizenship and with luck passed the first state-exam.
Happy years followed of independent scientific work. In addition I opted for an internship of pedagogy at the Maximilians-Gymnasium as I was interested in teaching; also private lessons were no bother. Shortly after the state-exam a short study-trip took me to the libraries in Upper Italy all the way to Florence. My first position as teacher I got at the gymnasium in Landau in the Palatinate. However, already after one and a half years I was transferred back to Munich to the Maximilians-Gymnasium. The states-koncurse and the rigorosum were also passed and the scientific work took me more distinctly in the direction of byzantine history-writing. Once more a year of military service interrupted the straight path of the studies; I became a soldier at my home town Osnabrück in the east-frisian regiment No 7s. It was not easy to find time between services to correct the proofs of my Blemmydes-Edition which was published that time, but I served in the fields with as much fun and emendation. Also later on I was with my brave east-frisians always a joyous soldier. When I recently as Oberleutnant der Landwehr asked for my leave I did so with a heavy heart.
{To the right: Annie Heisenberg (born
Wecklein)}
After a brief period teaching at the
Maximilians-Gymnasium I spent a joyful year in Lindau as a student teacher, during
which I received a stipend for archaeology by the Bavarian state from which I
spent the fall and winter 93 in Italy and spring 94 in Greece.
I gave my utmost enthusiasm to the study of the
antique and middle-aged art, but I also searched in Italian libraries for
unknown treasures among greek manuscripsts. In Greece I first got to know the works of the byzantine art.
Since I could
speak Greek fairly well I travelled to
the remote island Skyros and studied there
during six weeks the modern local dialect. The contact with the bright,
friendly and effective Greek people and later a stay in Constantinople with its
massive monuments from the culture of the middle ages decided my future. I left
Greece with the committment from now on to study and research the middle age and modern greek culture of
Byzantium with all my abilities.
A few days after my return home to Munich
I made Annie my bride; Annie, oldest daughter of the rector of the
Maximilian-Gymnasium, Nikolaus Wecklein, philologist and expert on Greek tragic
poets and his wife Magda, daughter of the well known writer and esthetic Adolf
Zeising.
During my stay in Athens I had received the notice
of my transfer from Lindau to the Luitplod-Gymnasium in Munich; but already two
years later we movwed to Würzburg. There, as I had requested , I became a
teacher at the Gymnasium simultaneously a privat docent for middle- and modern
Greek Philology at the University. Eight years I lived in Würzburg 01-09,
received some positive and found some faithful friends for life. Our son Erwin born
in Munich March 10th 1900 was joined by his brother Werner on December 5th
1901. The time in Würzburg was difficult due to the double jobs. Of course I
always enjoyed being a teacher. In that respectI I was better than many other
men for whom the main interest was their scientific work and teaching was just
a bother. This it was never for me. Even though I did suffer from the effects
of narrow bureaucratic attitudes that were noticeable in Gymnasium Service, more
so from the many worries the gymnasium teachers in Bavaria face due to their
social standing, which I certainly can share. But the work with the students
and the teaching itself was for me in the lower classes as much as in the upper
classes a source of unmitigated
satisfaction. My students and I always had a beautiful understanding, and not
the slightest disapointment taints the memory of them whose attachment I
nowadays appreciate. However, since I did not want to neglect the school and
still prepare my lectures carefully, and yet continue to participate in
scientific work my working hours had to be stretched way into the night. Thus
it may be excused when I occasionally compared my fate with that of the happy
philologists who could spend all their time and energy on their scientific
studies. In spite of these difficulties progress was made. The edition of
Akropolites was published (03); after that I started the trearment of Nikolaos
Mesarites, a previously unknown writer from the twelveth century which I had
discovered in the Ambrosisiana of Milan. On his Perse and other Problems I had already
worked in the Analecta (01). The coup of Johannes Komnenos by Mesarites I
published the year (07). Five years I spent on a different manuscript of this
man, a description of the chuch built by Justinian but now completely
disappeared of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople. This script became the
motivation to study the large P. of the Byzantine architecture and and
paintings to get acquainted with its history and its precursers in the old
christian art, further from the Church of the Holy Apostles of Justinias which
led to her predecessor, a church by
Constatin which led to the most famous church of old chritianity, the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre. A rigorous treatment of art-historical questions led on to
questions about history of religion from the early growth of christianity. The
two volumes "Grabeskirche und Apostelkirche" published in (08) attest
of these far reaching studies.
At university of Würzburg the
studies of middle and modern Greek were able to find support among the
students. A small supply of books had been acquired, also a kind of seminary
that was busy with work; the universiy decided to create a special position for
this subject. Then, on december 12th 09 my former teacher Karl Krumbacher
paased away and I was offered the chair as his sucessor; since the year 11 I am
an associate(adjunct) member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences.
The tasks expected from me are in clear view, in
one word namely to maintain and continue the huge work that Karl Krumbacher,
the founder of modern middle- and modern greek philolgy had started. In the
center is the middle- and modern greek Seminar at our university which is not
only a philologic historical school for young students but mainly a research
institute. So far it is the only one of his kind in Europe especially since
Krumbacher had donated his book collection to the university to make it an
incomparable special library that receives considerable support from the state
and the university. It needs some further expansion in the art-historical wing
but is already yearlong visited by learned experts. My teaching is centered in
the seminar; aside from this I try to bring those listeners from the fields of
language and speech closer to art and history, and in particular I love to
teach historical grammar. Prerequisites for independent work in Byzantine
Philology is the familiarity with the monuments in the literary traditions, the
greek manuscripts and the art of deciphering. Nowhere in Germany are the possibilities
to study greek pal ographie are offered so plentifully as iin Munich where the
library for court and state contains such wonderful treasures of greek
manuscripts. The full riches of this collection is far from being exhausted and
need yet be explored. The larger part of the historic documents are part of the
byzantinian literature. Thus after Pregers death I took over the task to
continue the catalogue of the greek manuscripts even though it will take
several years.
Other big tasks need to be accomplished as well.
The Bavarian Academy of Sciences gives the middle- and modern greek studies particular
support, as the grants from theTherianos-foudation
provide sufficient means. With the support of our Academy Krumbacher started in
92 the Byzantian Journal which by his effort became the central international
organ for Byzantine studies. Since Krumbachers death its leadership was passed
on to me. Excellent coworkers help to continue the journal in its proven track.
Our academy participates in the endeavours of the Association
internationale des academies. In particular she joined with the Vienna Academy of Sciences in creating
a complete corpus of Greek documents of the middleages and modern times which is
essential for researching of eastern european history. The work on this has been limited so far to
preparational means and collecting materials, however, certain areas could be
identified so that the real work will soon roll off.
The relationship between Munich and the new Greese
were formerly particularly close. The excitement of king Ludwig I for the
freedom of Hellas and the dedication to the idea of Philhelinism were an ancor
in the history of Bavaria and its kings. Since that time the care in Munich of middle and modern Greek philology never
stopped. Never in other countries nor somewhere else in Germany they received
as much support as particularly here. Of the German Universities only Munich houses this science which for the
past century received the intensive
continuous. care through men like ...
Christ, and Krumbacher. One needs to build on the old base and expand it in akk
directions.
August im Jahre 1929