Hermann Wilken
Encyclopedia
Hermann Wilken also known as Hermann Witekind and with the pseudonym of Augustin Lercheimer, was a German
humanist
and mathematician
.
, he studied in Frankfurt (Oder)
(1545/46) and in Wittenberg
(1547), where he was an alumn of Philipp Melanchthon
. In 1552 Wilken was recommended by him to teach at the Latin Cathedral School in Riga
, becaming rector in 1554. In 1561 he studied at the University of Rostock
and in 1563 he became professor of Greek language
in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Heidelberg.
In 1585 he published, under the pseudonym
of Augustine Lercheimer, "Christlich bedenken und erinnerung von Zauberey" (i.e.: Christian memory about witchcraft), his book against the persecution of witches
. Some witchcraft
theorists, as Johann Georg Gödelmann
and Anton Praetorius
, were influenced by Wilken.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
humanist
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
.
Biography
Originary of Neuenrade, in WestphaliaWestphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
, he studied in Frankfurt (Oder)
Frankfurt (Oder)
Frankfurt is a town in Brandenburg, Germany, located on the Oder River, on the German-Polish border directly opposite the town of Słubice which was a part of Frankfurt until 1945. At the end of the 1980s it reached a population peak with more than 87,000 inhabitants...
(1545/46) and in Wittenberg
Wittenberg
Wittenberg, officially Lutherstadt Wittenberg, is a city in Germany in the Bundesland Saxony-Anhalt, on the river Elbe. It has a population of about 50,000....
(1547), where he was an alumn of Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon
Philipp Melanchthon , born Philipp Schwartzerdt, was a German reformer, collaborator with Martin Luther, the first systematic theologian of the Protestant Reformation, intellectual leader of the Lutheran Reformation, and an influential designer of educational systems...
. In 1552 Wilken was recommended by him to teach at the Latin Cathedral School in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, becaming rector in 1554. In 1561 he studied at the University of Rostock
University of Rostock
The University of Rostock is the university of the city Rostock, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.Founded in 1419, it is the oldest and largest university in continental northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area...
and in 1563 he became professor of Greek language
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Heidelberg.
In 1585 he published, under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Augustine Lercheimer, "Christlich bedenken und erinnerung von Zauberey" (i.e.: Christian memory about witchcraft), his book against the persecution of witches
Witch-hunt
A witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and lynching, but in historical instances also legally sanctioned and involving official witchcraft trials...
. Some witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
theorists, as Johann Georg Gödelmann
Johann Georg Gödelmann
Johann Georg Gödelmann, was a German jurist, diplomat and demonological writer.- Selected works :...
and Anton Praetorius
Anton Praetorius
Anton Praetorius was a German Calvinist pastor who spoke out against the persecution of witches and against torture.-Life and writings :...
, were influenced by Wilken.
External links
Hermann Wilken at historicum.net Literature about Hermann Wilken on the German National LibraryGerman National Library
The German National Library is the central archival library and national bibliographic centre for the Federal Republic of Germany...