Wilhelm Xylander Paintings

Wilhelm Xylander, born Georg Holtzmann, was a renowned German classical scholar and humanist of the Renaissance era. He was born on December 26, 1532, in Augsburg, Holy Roman Empire. Xylander is a Greek translation of his German surname, which means 'wood-man,' a practice common among scholars of this period who often Latinized or Hellenized their names.

Xylander studied at the University of Tübingen where he was a pupil of Philipp Melanchthon, a significant figure in the Protestant Reformation and a close associate of Martin Luther. After completing his studies in Tübingen, Xylander moved to the University of Zurich to further his education. His academic prowess, particularly in the field of classical literature, earned him a reputation as a formidable scholar.

In 1558, Xylander accepted a position as a professor of Greek at the University of Heidelberg. There, he published several significant works, including translations of important Greek texts. He was the first to translate the complete works of the Greek historian Plutarch into Latin, which was a monumental contribution to the accessibility of classical texts during his time. Furthermore, Xylander made notable contributions to the study of other classical authors such as Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Strabo, and Epictetus.

Xylander's work was characterized by his meticulous approach to translation and commentary, which was instrumental in the development of classical philology. His efforts were part of the broader humanist endeavor to recover and disseminate the knowledge of antiquity, and his translations played a crucial role in the intellectual discourse of the period.

Despite his intellectual achievements, Xylander's life was marked by personal struggles, including financial difficulties. His dedication to scholarship, however, never waned. Wilhelm Xylander died on February 10, 1576, in Heidelberg. His legacy continued through the scholars he influenced and through his contributions to Renaissance humanism and the study of ancient Greek literature.