Friedrich Münter
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Christian Carl Heinrich Münter (October 14, 1761 – April 9, 1830) was a German-Danish scholar, professor of theology at the University of Copenhagen
, orientalist, church historian, archaeologist, Danish bishop of Zealand, and freemason. He was a brother of Sophie Christiane Friederike Brun
.
, a son of Balthasar Münter, a clergyman. His father moved with his family to Copenhagen
in 1765 to become vicar at St. Peter's Church
. Here Friedrich was privately tutored at the vicarage. There he enjoyed the company of many of his father's renowned acquaintances including the archaeologist Carsten Niebuhr
, professor of theology Johann Andreas Cramer, and the poets Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock
and Heinrich Wilhelm von Gerstenberg
.
In 1781 he began a study at the University of Göttingen. In 1784 he was the first Protestant to receive a doctorate of philosophy at the University of Fulda
.
Afterwards, the King Christian VII of Denmark
sent him to Italy and Sicily
to continue his education. In Rome he had contact with Stefano Borgia
, who later became cardinal. There he learned the Coptic language. In 1787 he returned to Copenhagen and became a professor at the University of Copenhagen
.
Münter collated and described manuscripts housed in notable Italian libraries, e.g. he collated Codex Nanianus
for the first time and he sent some extracts from this codex to Andreas Birch. Birch used these extracts in his edition of the text of the four Gospels in Greek.
Münter's main work is "Religion der Karthager" (Copenhagen, 1816). The second edition (1821) was expanded and included new research.
Other works include "Sendschreiben an Kreuzer über Sardische Idole" (Copenhagen, 1822), "Der Tempel der himmlichen Göttin zu Paphos" (Copenhagen, 1824), and "Religion der Babylonier" (Copenhagen, 1827). Some small archaeological works of Münter were included in his "Antiquarische Abhandlungen" (Copenhagen, 1816).
On numismatics
Münter wrote: "De Numo plumbео Zenobia reginae Orientis" (Petersburg, 1823) and "Ueber die Münzen der Vandalischen Könige von Karthago" ("Antiquarische Abhandlungen", p. 301).
According to Münter the word Abraxas
came from two Coptic words meaning "new fangled title".
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
, orientalist, church historian, archaeologist, Danish bishop of Zealand, and freemason. He was a brother of Sophie Christiane Friederike Brun
Friederike Brun
Friederike Brun, née Münther , was a Danish author and salonist.She was married to the affluent merchant Constantin Brun and during the Danish Golden Age of the first half of the 19th century she arranged literary salons at Sophienholm, their summer retreat north of Copenhagen.-Early...
.
Life
Friedrich Münter was born on October 14, 1761 in GothaGotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
, a son of Balthasar Münter, a clergyman. His father moved with his family to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1765 to become vicar at St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church, Copenhagen
St. Peter's Church is the parish church of the German-speaking community in Copenhagen, Denmark. Built as a single-nave church in the mid-15th century, it is the oldest building in central Copenhagen. It is also notable for its extensive complex of sepulchral chapels.-History:St...
. Here Friedrich was privately tutored at the vicarage. There he enjoyed the company of many of his father's renowned acquaintances including the archaeologist Carsten Niebuhr
Carsten Niebuhr
Carsten Niebuhr or Karsten Niebuhr , a German mathematician, cartographer, and explorer in the service of Denmark, is renowned for his travels on the Arabian peninsula.-Biography:...
, professor of theology Johann Andreas Cramer, and the poets Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock
Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock
Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock was a German poet.-Biography:Klopstock was born at Quedlinburg, the eldest son of a lawyer.Both in his birthplace and on the estate of Friedeburg on the Saale, which his father later rented, young Klopstock passed a happy childhood; and more attention having been given...
and Heinrich Wilhelm von Gerstenberg
Heinrich Wilhelm von Gerstenberg
Heinrich Wilhelm von Gerstenberg was a German poet and critic.Gerstenberg was born in Tondern, Schleswig. After attending school in Husum and at the Christianeum Hamburg, and studying law at the University of Jena, he entered the Danish military service and took part in the Russian campaign of 1762...
.
In 1781 he began a study at the University of Göttingen. In 1784 he was the first Protestant to receive a doctorate of philosophy at the University of Fulda
University of Fulda
The University of Fulda , was founded in 1734 by Adolphus von Dalberg and existed until 1805. Most of the students and professors were Catholic...
.
Afterwards, the King Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death. He was the son of Danish King Frederick V and his first consort Louisa, daughter of King George II of Great Britain....
sent him to Italy and Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
to continue his education. In Rome he had contact with Stefano Borgia
Stefano Borgia
The Most Rev. Dr. Stefano Cardinal Borgia was a senior Italian prelate, theologian, antiquarian and historian.Cardinal Borgia belonged to a well known family of Velletri, where he was born, and was a distant relative of the House of Borgia. His early education was controlled by his uncle...
, who later became cardinal. There he learned the Coptic language. In 1787 he returned to Copenhagen and became a professor at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
.
Münter collated and described manuscripts housed in notable Italian libraries, e.g. he collated Codex Nanianus
Codex Nanianus
Codex Nanianus, designated by siglum U or 030 , ε 90 , is a Greek uncial manuscripts of the New Testament on parchment, dated palaeographically to the 9th century. The manuscript has complex contents, with full marginalia . The codex is named after its last owner...
for the first time and he sent some extracts from this codex to Andreas Birch. Birch used these extracts in his edition of the text of the four Gospels in Greek.
Münter's main work is "Religion der Karthager" (Copenhagen, 1816). The second edition (1821) was expanded and included new research.
Other works include "Sendschreiben an Kreuzer über Sardische Idole" (Copenhagen, 1822), "Der Tempel der himmlichen Göttin zu Paphos" (Copenhagen, 1824), and "Religion der Babylonier" (Copenhagen, 1827). Some small archaeological works of Münter were included in his "Antiquarische Abhandlungen" (Copenhagen, 1816).
On numismatics
Numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the...
Münter wrote: "De Numo plumbео Zenobia reginae Orientis" (Petersburg, 1823) and "Ueber die Münzen der Vandalischen Könige von Karthago" ("Antiquarische Abhandlungen", p. 301).
According to Münter the word Abraxas
Abraxas
The word Abrasax was a word of mystic meaning in the system of the Gnostic Basilides, being there applied to the “Great Archon” , the princeps of the 365 spheres...
came from two Coptic words meaning "new fangled title".
Works
- Betrachtung über die natürliche Religion (1805)
- De aetate versionum Novi Testamenti copticorum (1790)
- Dr. Balthasar Münters Leben und Charakteristik (1793)
- Nachrichten über beide Sizilien (1790)
- Statutenbuch des Ordens der Tempelherren – Sinzheim, AAGW, 2002 (Repr. d. Ausg. Berlin 1794)
- Vermischte Beyträge zur Kirchengeschichte – Kopenhagen, Proft & Storch, 1798
- Die Offenbarung Johannis metrisch ins Deutsche übersetzt – Kopenhagen 1784
- Fragmenta Patrum Graecorum edidit & illustr – Fasc. I. Hafniae 1788
Literature
- Fr. Nielsens Münter in: Dansk biografisk leksikonDansk biografisk leksikonDansk biografisk leksikon is a Danish biographical dictionary that has been published in three editions...
, edited by C.F. BrickaCarl Frederik BrickaCarl Frederik Bricka was a Danish archivist, historian, and biographer. He was the publisher of the Dansk biografisk lexikon: tillige omfattende Norge for Tidsrummet 1537–1814, a large Danish biographic encyclopedia published in 19 volumes from 1887 to 1905.- References :*L.L.: , in Blangstrup,...
, 12. volume, pages 25–33, GyldendalGyldendalGyldendal may refer to:*Gyldendal, a Danish publishing house*Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, a Norwegian publishing house founded as a demerger from the Danish one*Søren Gyldendal, the founder of the Danish publishing house...
, 1887–1905. - Rasmussen, Alexander og Øjvind Andreasen. (1925–1949). Frederik Münter: et Mindeskrift, Haase, 1925-1949. 1–7 i 8 vols.