Nobel Prize in Literature
1 appearances
-
Edition 2 (1902) Winner
Theodor Mommsen
テオドール・モムゼン
Theodor Mommsen
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1817-11-30 （Garding, Duchy of Schleswig, Denmark）
- Died
- 1903-11-01 （Charlottenburg, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire） age 85
- Nationality
- German
- Languages
- German
- Religion
- Lutheranism
- Residence History
- Bad Oldesloe, Holstein → Garding (birthplace) → Leipzig (professorship) → Zurich (professorship/exile) → Breslau (professorship) → Berlin (research and residence) → Rome (research collaborations)
Career
- Occupations
- classical scholar, historian, jurist, journalist, politician, archaeologist
- Active Years
- 1837-1903
- Affiliations
- Berlin Academy of Sciences (Historical-Philological Class), University of Leipzig (professor), University of Zurich (professor), University of Breslau (professor), University of Berlin (professor), German Archaeological Institute (Rome)
- Memberships
- Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (foreign member), American Antiquarian Society, American Philosophical Society
- Influenced By
- Bartolomeo Borghesi, Jakob Bernays
- Influenced
- Wilhelm Dilthey, Eduard Schwartz, Otto Seeck, Numerous later classicists and historians (e.g., Hans Mommsen, Wolfgang Mommsen)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gymnasium Christianeum (Altona) | — | — | Abitur (卒業資格) | 1833–1837 | Germany |
| University of Kiel | Faculty of Law | Jurisprudence (Roman law) | 博士（ローマ法） | 1838–1843 | Germany |
Gymnasium Christianeum (Altona)
Degree:
Abitur (卒業資格)
Period:
1833–1837
Year of Graduation:
1837
Country:
Germany
Completed secondary education; studied Ancient Greek and Latin.
University of Kiel
Faculty of Law
/ Jurisprudence (Roman law)
Degree:
博士（ローマ法）
Period:
1838–1843
Year of Graduation:
1843
Country:
Germany
Studied Roman law; later turned focus to ancient history.
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1868 | Pour le Mérite (civil class) | — | — | Kingdom of Prussia | 受賞 |
| 1902 | Nobel Prize in Literature | Römische Geschichte (History of Rome) | — | Swedish Academy (Nobel Committee) | 受賞 |
Pour le Mérite (civil class)
1868
Organization:
Kingdom of Prussia
Result:
受賞
Nobel Prize in Literature
1902
Work:
Römische Geschichte (History of Rome)
Organization:
Swedish Academy (Nobel Committee)
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
History of Rome (Römische Geschichte)
1854 History (Ancient history)A major work on Roman history covering the late Republic to early Empire. It treats political, social and legal developments and established a framework for 19th-century classical scholarship.
Roman politicslegal institutionssocial changepower and governance
Translations
- English translation: 'History of Rome' (various volumes/translations)
Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum
1863 Scholarly corpus (epigraphy/classical sources)A systematic collection and critical edition of ancient Latin inscriptions. Mommsen edited several volumes and established the foundations of modern epigraphy.
epigraphytextual criticismeveryday history of ancient Rome
Bibliography
- Römische Geschichte (History of Rome) and over 1,500 other works
- Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum (editor)
- The Provinces of the Roman Empire (volume of History of Rome)
Adaptations
- Statues (e.g., Humboldt University of Berlin) and references in plays and performance texts
Translations of Works
- History of Rome has been translated into English (various editions) and other languages
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Scholarly yet eloquent and persuasive proseDetailed, source-critical narrative
- Recurring Motifs
- evolution of law and institutionsnature and corruption of powerinteraction of local societies and imperial rule
Legacy
One of the foremost 19th-century classicists and historians. He profoundly influenced Roman history, epigraphy and Roman law studies; his editorial and institutional work left a lasting scholarly legacy. His Nobel Prize in Literature is notable among non-fiction laureates.
Academic Societies
- Berlin Academy of Sciences (Historical-Philological Class)
- Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (foreign member)
- American Philosophical Society
Archives
- Archives of the Prussian Academy of Sciences (related papers and manuscripts)
In Popular Culture
- Referenced in literature and theatre (e.g., Heiner Müller's 'Mommsens Block')
- Commemorated by statues at Humboldt University and by schools named after him
Quotes
-
(As described by Mark Twain) The house rose and shouted 'MOMMSEN!' and the whole house rose.
Source: Mark Twain, account of his European tour (anecdote from 1892) (1892)
Trivia
- Fathered sixteen children with his wife Marie.
- In 1880 a fire at his home destroyed manuscripts and he was injured attempting to save papers.
- One of the few non-fiction writers awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.