Joachim Latacz

Infobox Scientist
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name = Joachim Latacz


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birth_date = birth date and age|1934|4|4
birth_place = Katowice, Poland
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nationality = flag|Germany
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fields = Classical philology
workplaces = University of Basel
alma_mater = Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg
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Joachim Latacz (born 4 April 1934, Katowice, Poland, at that time: Autonomous District of Upper Silesia) is a German classical philologist.

Latacz studied Classical Philology, Indo-Germanic languages, Ancient History and Archaeology from 1954-1956 at the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg. He then studied Classical Philology, Ancient History and Philosophy at the Free University of Berlin, completing his first degree in 1960. From 1960-1966 was a research associate at the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae under Bruno Snell and Hartmut Erbse at the University of Hamburg. He earned his Ph. D. at the Free University of Berlin under Uvo Hoelscher in 1963.

Latacz is a specialist in ancient Greek literature and culture, and is widely considered one of the most distinguished experts in the German-speaking world on Homer and epic.

Life and research

For over twenty years he was one of the most important supporters of Manfred Korfmann, the archaeologist and Troy specialist. Latacz repeatedly defended the hypothesis that the Homeric account of the Trojan War essentially goes back to genuine historical events in the late Bronze Age.

From 1981 until his retirement Latacz was Ordinarius (Full Professor) of Greek Philology and Head of Department at the University of Basel (Switzerland). In addition to his teaching activity, he occupied himself with early Greek literature and published numerous works on Homer and the performance of Greek tragedy and lyrics.

At present, he is working on a complete commentary on the "Iliad", with two volumes (text plus commentary) for each book of the epic (this will make it the largest commentary since that of Eustathius). [ J.B. Lethbridge 2005, [http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/bmcr/2005/2005-08-16.html review of vol. 2 in "BMCR" 2005.08.16] . ] A volume of prolegomena and two volumes of the commentary itself have been published so far.

References

Bibliography

* (2001) "Troia und Homer. Der Weg zur Lösung eines alten Rätsels", München/Berlin; in English (2004) as "Troy and Homer: Towards a Solution of an Old Mystery", Oxford, ISBN 0-19-926308-6, 5th updated and expanded edition, Leipzig 2005 (in Spanish 2003 ISBN 84-233-3487-2, modern Greek 2005 ISBN 960-16-1557-1)
* (2001) "Troia – Wilios – Wilusa. Drei Namen für ein Territorium", Basel, second edition 2002
* (2000 onwards) General editor: "Homers Ilias. Gesamtkommentar", München/Leipzig; prolegomena ISBN 3-598-74310-6; vol. 1 ISBN 3-598-74302-5 (text), ISBN 3-598-74303-3 (commentary); vol. 2 ISBN 3-598-74305-X (text), ISBN 3-598-74306-8 (commentary)
* (1998) "Fruchtbares Ärgernis. Nietzsches 'Geburt der Tragödie' und die gräzistische Tragödienforschung", Basel
* (1995) "Achilleus. Wandlungen eines europäischen Heldenbildes", second edition 1997
* (1996) With B. Kytzler and K. Sallmann: "Kleine Enzyklopädie der antiken Autoren"
* (1994) "Erschließung der Antike" (= "Kleine Schriften")
* (1993) "Einführung in die griechische Tragödie", Düsseldorf/Zürich, second updated edition 2003
* (1992) With B. Kytzler and K. Sallmann: "Klassische Autoren der Antike'
* (1991) Editor: "Zweihundert Jahre Homer-Forschung. Rückblick und Ausblick"
* (1991) "Griechische Literatur in Text und Darstellung. I: Archaische Periode", Stuttgart, second edition 1998
* (1991) Editor: "Homer. Die Dichtung und ihre Deutung" (Wege der Forschung 634), Darmstadt
* (1985) "Homer. Der erste Dichter des Abendlands" (4th edition Düsseldorf/Zürich, 2003); in English as "Homer: His Art and his World", Ann Arbor, ISBN 0-472-08353-8
* (1979) Editor: "Homer. Tradition und Neuerung" (Wege der Forschung 463), Darmstadt
* (1977) "Kampfparänese, Kampfdarstellung und Kampfwirklichkeit in der Ilias, bei Kallinos und Tyrtaios"* (1966) "Zum Wortfeld 'Freude' in der Sprache Homers"

Notes

External links

* [http://pages.unibas.ch/klaphil/fs/homer.html Outline of the BK ("Basel Kommentar") project]
* [http://www.unibas.ch/klaphil/institut/mitarb/latacz.html homepage]