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Erwin Rohde

1845 – 1898

German classical philologist

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About Erwin Rohde

Lived 1845 – 1898 (aged 52). Erwin Rohde was a classical philologist and university teacher.

Erwin Rohde (; 9 October 1845 – 11 January 1898) was one of the great German classical scholars of the 19th century.

Rohde was born in Hamburg and was the son of a doctor. Outside of antiquarian circles, Rohde is known today chiefly for his friendship and correspondence with fellow philologist Friedrich Nietzsche. The two were students together in Bonn and Leipzig, where they were studying philology taught by Friedrich Wilhelm Ritschl. In 1872, Rohde became a professor at the University of Kiel. He later was professor in Jena (1876), Tübingen (1878) and finally Heidelberg, where he died in 1898 after suffering from a gradual decline in health.

His Psyche (1890-1894) remains a standard reference work for Greek cult practices and beliefs related to the soul.

His work, Der Griechische Roman und seine Vorläufer (1876), was considered by Mikhail Bakhtin to be "the best book on the history of the ancient novel", and it is still regarded as one of the greatest "monuments of 19th century classics scholarship in Germany".

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Hamburg
Education
University of Bonn, Leipzig University, Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums
Positions held
Geheimrat
Employers
University of Tübingen, Leipzig University, Kiel University, Heidelberg University

People in Erwin Rohde's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Erwin Rohde's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Erwin Rohde?

German classical philologist (1845–1898)

When was Erwin Rohde born?

Erwin Rohde was born on 9 October 1845 in Hamburg.

When did Erwin Rohde die?

Erwin Rohde died on 11 January 1898 in Heidelberg.

What was Erwin Rohde's occupation?

Erwin Rohde was a classical philologist and university teacher.

What nationality was Erwin Rohde?

Erwin Rohde's recorded nationality: Hamburg.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Erwin Rohde

· Wikidata: Q65486

· DBpedia: Erwin Rohde

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Erwin Rohde. https://biography.guide/erwin-rohde/

MLA: "Erwin Rohde." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/erwin-rohde/.

Chicago: "Erwin Rohde." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/erwin-rohde/.

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