Athenaeum litterarum Demidowianum Jaroslaviense: Teaching Classical Philology and Ancient History

Abstract

The article discusses the teaching of a number of subjects of classical studies - Latin and ancient Greek, ancient history and literature - by professors of the Demidov Higher Sciences School. The attention of P. G. Demidov to humanitarian subjects in the Athenaeum founded by him is noted (the official Latin name of the school was Athenaeum litterarum Demidowianum Jaroslaviense), as well as his personal invitations of classical philologists for teaching. The author connects the formation of P. G. Demidov’s interest to classical languages and to the sciences in general with his studies in Revel with Professor A. F. Sigismundi, about whom the article provides biographical information. The activity in Yaroslavl of classical philologists I. E. Sreznevsky, F. Schmidt and M. O. Khanenko, as well as A. F. Klimenko and S. A. Vilinsky is characterized. The content of speeches by S A. Vilinsky about the history and «successes of enlightenment» of the three ancient peoples - the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans is analyzed. It is concluded that classical studies at the Demidov School were originally an essential and very significant part of the formation of higher education in Yaroslavl.