# Johann Georg Graevius

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German academic (1632–1703)

Johann Georg Graevius.

**Johann Georg Graevius** (originally *Grava* or *Greffe*; Latin: Joannes/Johannes Georgius Graevius; 29 January 1632 – 11 January 1703) was a German [classical scholar](/source/Classical_scholar) and [critic](/source/Critic). He was born in [Naumburg](/source/Naumburg_(Saale)), in the [Electorate of Saxony](/source/Electorate_of_Saxony).

## Life

Graevius was originally intended for the [law](/source/Law), but made the acquaintance of [Johann Friedrich Gronovius](/source/Johann_Friedrich_Gronovius) during a casual visit to [Deventer](/source/Deventer), under whose influence he abandoned jurisprudence for [philology](/source/Philology). He completed his studies under [Daniel Heinsius](/source/Daniel_Heinsius) at [Leiden](/source/University_of_Leiden), and among others under the [Protestant](/source/Protestant) [theologian](/source/Theology) [David Blondel](/source/David_Blondel) at [Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam).[1]

During his residence in Amsterdam, under Blondel's influence he abandoned [Lutheranism](/source/Lutheranism) and joined the [Reformed Church](/source/Reformed_Church); and in 1656 he was called by the [Elector](/source/Prince-elector) of [Brandenburg](/source/Brandenburg) to the chair of [rhetoric](/source/Rhetoric) in the [University of Duisburg](/source/University_of_Duisburg). Two years afterwards, on the recommendation of Gronovius, he was chosen to succeed that scholar at Deventer; in 1662 he moved to the [University of Utrecht](/source/Utrecht_University), where he occupied first the chair of rhetoric, and in addition, from 1667 until his death, that of [history](/source/History) and [politics](/source/Political_science).[1]

*Thesaurus antiquitatum et historiarum Italiae*, 1704

Graevius enjoyed a very high reputation as a teacher, and his lecture-room was crowded by pupils, many of them of distinguished rank, from all parts of the world. He was visited by [Lorenzo Magalotti](/source/Lorenzo_Magalotti) and honoured with special recognition by [Louis XIV](/source/Louis_XIV), and was a particular favourite of [William III of England](/source/William_III_of_England), who made him [historiographer](/source/Historiographer) royal.[1]

His library, rich in antiquarian classical books, was bought after his death by [Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine](/source/Johann_Wilhelm%2C_Elector_Palatine) (reigned 1690–1716); part of it was later transferred to Heidelberg University Library

Graevius died in [Utrecht](/source/Utrecht) in 1703.

## Work

His two most important works are the *Thesaurus antiquitatum Romanarum* (1694–1699, in 12 volumes), and the *[Thesaurus antiquitatum et historiarum Italiae](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thesaurus_antiquitatum_et_historiarum_Italiae&action=edit&redlink=1)* published after his death, and continued by the elder [Pieter Burmann](/source/Pieter_Burmann_the_Elder) (1704–1725), although these have not always been looked upon favourably.[2] His editions of the classics, although they marked a distinct advance in scholarship, are now for the most part superseded. They include *[Hesiod](/source/Hesiod)* (1667), *[Lucian](/source/Lucian)*, *Pseudosophista* (1668), *[Justin](/source/Junianus_Justinus)*, *Historiae Philippicae* (1669), *[Suetonius](/source/Lives_of_the_Twelve_Caesars)* (1672), *[Catullus](/source/Catullus)*, *[Tibullus](/source/Tibullus) et [Propertius](/source/Propertius)* (1680), and several of the works of [Cicero](/source/Cicero).[1]

He also edited many of the writings of contemporary scholars.[1] He corresponded with scholars throughout Europe including with [Albert Rubens](/source/Albert_Rubens), the son of [Peter Paul Rubens](/source/Peter_Paul_Rubens) who was a prominent classical scholar and numismatist. He posthumously edited a collection of Albert Rubens's essays on ancient clothing, coins and gems, which was published in 1665 by [Balthasar Moretus](/source/Balthasar_Moretus) in Antwerp under the title *De re vestiaria veterum, [...], et alia eiusdem opuscula posthuma*.[3]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEChisholm1911_1-4) [Chisholm 1911](#CITEREFChisholm1911).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Not, for example, in J.-C. Brunet, *Manuel du libraire et de l’amateur des livres*, Paris 1842–1844, who calls this last work "poorly researched".

1. **[^](#cite_ref-but_3-0)** [*Rubens&son*, Nils Büttner, *Rubens&son*](https://www.academia.edu/23827302/Rubens_and_son) in: Brosens, Koenraad; Kelchtermans, Leen; Van der Stighelen, Katlijne (Ed.), Family ties: Art production and kinship patterns in the early modern Low Countries, Turnhout 2012, pp. 131-14

## Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Johann Georg Graevius](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Johann_Georg_Graevius).

- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain): [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). "[Graevius, Johann Georg](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Graevius,_Johann_Georg)". *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 315.

- The *Oratio funebris* by Burmann (1703) contains an exhaustive list of the works of this scholar.

- P.H. Kulb in Ersch and Gruber's *Allgemeine Encyklopädie*, Leipzig 1818

- [J.E. Sandys](/source/John_Edwin_Sandys), *History of Classical Scholarship*, part ii, Cambridge 1908

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