When does the lecture by Ivan Matijašić take place?

The lecture begins on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Where does the event take place?

The event takes place at Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615 Bielefeld, in room X-E1-103.

What is the cost of admission?

Admission to the event is free.

In what context does the lecture take place?

The lecture is part of the research colloquium Ancient History at Bielefeld University.

What is the content about?

Prof. Dr. Ivan Matijašić speaks about Wilamowitz, Felix Jacoby, and the scientific study of Greek historians.

Ivan Matijašić reads in Bielefeld 2026

Name: Lecture by Prof. Dr. Ivan Matijašić: Wilamowitz, Jacoby and the Greek Historians
Start: 2026-10-27T18:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-27T18:00:00+01:00
Location: Universität Bielefeld

How Greek history is written, collected, and interpreted

In the research colloquium Ancient History at Bielefeld University, Prof. Dr. Ivan Matijašić addresses a central chapter of modern classical studies: the relationship between Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff, Felix Jacoby, and the study of Greek historians. The lecture combines philological precision with the history of science and opens up insights into the methods, evaluations, and intellectual traditions behind our current understanding of antiquity.

Between source criticism and literary tradition

Greek historiography does not arise solely from preserved books. Numerous authors are only transmitted in fragments, quotations, or later adaptations. This is precisely where the work of Felix Jacoby comes into play, whose collection The Fragments of the Greek Historians has significantly shaped the research. The lecture asks how such traditions are organized, valued, and integrated into larger historical narratives.

Wilamowitz and Jacoby in academic conversation

At the center is the relationship between two outstanding representatives of classical philology. Their positions point to different notions of literary quality, historical significance, and scientific method. Thus, the topic touches not only on ancient history but also on the cultural history of scholarship and the change in academic interpretative patterns.

A lecture with current research perspective

Ivan Matijašić works as a researcher in Greek history and studies, among other topics, ancient historiography, Herodotus, Thucydides, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, as well as the history of Classical Philology. His publications include the monograph Shaping the Canons of Ancient Greek Historiography and numerous studies on the reception, narrativity, and scientific exploration of Greek historiography.

The reading atmosphere of an academic lecture thrives here less on dramatic staging than on the concentrated author encounter with historical texts, research history, and linguistic artistry. Those interested in literature of antiquity, source criticism, philology, or the cultural discourse on historiography will gain insights into a research field that continues to have an impact today.

Conclusion: Understanding ancient historiography anew

The lecture promises a demanding literary and scientific experience for all who wish to look beyond the transmitted texts. Prof. Dr. Ivan Matijašić makes visible how closely interpretation, scholarship, and historical memory are interconnected. Admission is free – an opportunity to experience current research on Greek historiography live in Bielefeld.