A journey through the life of August Meineke

Born on December 8, 1790 in Soest, Meineke followed in the footsteps of his father, the director of a high school, and influenced generations of students with his work as a philologist and educator.

From 1805 to 1810, Meineke attended the renowned Pforta State School and then continued his education at the University of Leipzig. Here he studied classical philology for three semesters under the renowned Professor Gottfried Hermann. Thanks to Hermann's recommendation, Meineke received his first professorship at the Conradinum in Jenkau, near Danzig.

In 1814, Meineke moved to the Academic High School in Danzig and was appointed rector there three years later. His influence in the educational world continued to grow when in 1826 he was appointed director of the Joachimsthalsche Gymnasium in Berlin, a position he held for 30 years until 1856.

In addition to his teaching activities, Meineke is particularly known for his life's work, the "Fragmenta Comicorum Graecorum". This collection, published from 1839 to 1857, brings together fragments from all the Greek comedy poets in an edition unsurpassed at the time.

Meineke died in Berlin on December 12, 1870, just four days after his 80th birthday. He found his final resting place in the Cathedral Cemetery I on Liesenstrasse, although unfortunately his grave is no longer preserved today.

In memory of this extraordinary scholar, Meinekestrasse in Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf was named after him in 1899. It runs between Kurfürstendamm and Schaperstrasse and ends at the former location of the Joachimsthalschen Gymnasium - a fitting homage to the man who once headed this institution. Keep following us to learn more about August Meineke's life and his lasting contributions to education and classical philology.