Adoration of Things Roman By Gerald Perschbacher (LL.D.)

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1 Written for participants in the Germanic Genealogical Special Interest Group( GGSIG), augmenting German research and the German American Heritage Society ( FORUM contains genealogical, educational, and historical information with fresh insights plus ideas on German culture & ancestry. Dr. Gerald Perschbacher (LL.D.) compiler-coordinator Adoration of Things Roman By Gerald Perschbacher (LL.D.) Ancient Romans admired Greek achievements in warfare, in philosophy, religious mythology, and in societal accomplishments. Yet, there were differences when Romans applied what they learned from the earlier culture. Take statuary and building construction, for examples. One-piece statuary by Greeks gave way to Roman copies with sections of the artwork made separately and affixed to the greater whole. And while Greeks often delighted in solid

2 marble construction of buildings and adornments, Romans more often used a veneer approach whereby an outer section of marble graced an edifice while the hidden construction was of much plainer and lesser materials. In a good number of cases, later ancient Roman construction included faux-marbling simulated with plaster. In similar respects, Germanic tribes and eventually German territories borrowed from the Roman way of life while tweaking it to fit their settings. The grand arches and huge buildings of Roman lore were patterns for German structures. Pillars abounded on later constructions, even nearly to the present era. When a significant structure was to be built to commemorate a victory, event, or accomplishment, German designers leaned on Roman appearances. Roman writings were read, studied, and discussed in Hockschule curriculum and especially in university coursework. The Roman way of life was emulated in patrician manners by high society. As the Roman Empire faded by 450 A.D., the language was far from faltering. It was the common language that transcended cultures across most of Europe and the Mediterranean. In trade, in travel, and in warfare the Latin way of speaking and writing linked men and women of various backgrounds. This entered the Christian Church in a major way, given the fact that the Papal court was headquartered in old Roman territory. Latin was such a primary part of Germanic culture in northern and western Europe that it dominated as the generally official language of German courts, Imperial edicts, and debates at high levels.

3 Even the steps to university education went through Latin school training in German territories. The majority of those Latin schools were overseen by territorial authorities. When the printing press became popular in the 1500s, Latin was a natural choice for many books and documents. The German language also had an edge in the progress of printing. However, to some people who had the gift of reading, Latin was the only proper language. All others were not of God or were of lesser status. When the Reformation spread throughout western Europe in the first half of the 16 th century, people of low status who never went though full training at a Latin school took comfort in knowing that more and more publications were printed in the rudimentary German language. They did not need to master two languages as German progressed as a supplanter of Latin. The printing press fostered consistency of letters and words and eventually spelling. Regionalisms in language lightened as the need to communicate clearly gained the top hand. The production and distribution of the German Bible served as a major impetus in the establishment of the German language, resulting in today s dominant form better known as High German. The language of learning for German institutions and official records was Latin even (in some select cases) into the 18 th and 19 th century. At that point, a researcher has to pause and carefully consider how to read and/or translate documents that may relate to genealogy. A hindrance to understanding old documents in historical and genealogical studies is that some Latin words and sentence structures smacked of Germanization. There was Latin; there

4 was German; and there was a mixture of the two. Deciphering a document of blended Latin and German can be challenging. That can challenge some of the best armchair genealogists and semi-professional researchers, even in modern Germany. When Latin documents were regionalized and Germanized, it takes someone familiar with the style to provide a concise translation. Portion of a 1607 German document in Latin Why Roman? Well, why NOT? Roman culture and power were respected and envied by some of the greatest people in history. There was a wholly magnificent feel behind the huge success of Rome and its longevity. Rome controlled the Golden Age of the Mediterranean and large parts of Europe. Its well-trained forces put down rebellions as never known before. Might, power, wealth, success and much more were equated with Roman manners, thoughts, ideals, tendencies, and customs. Besides all these, the Roman influence lived on in daily reminders via huge aquaducts, paved roadways, and edifices constructed in ancient Roman times. Germanic people stood in awe of Rome. Even military regalia and practices in 20 th century Germany smacked of it. There is a lot of Roman grandeur researchers can sense in Napoleon. The expansion of nations at times has been compared to the rise of Rome. Pomp and circumstance in Prussia and Bavaria smacked of Patrician principles (practically a direct correlation to old Roman ways). Obviously, when the rise of Germanic tribes resulted in the growth of the Franks and the recognition of the Holy Roman Empire ( of the Germans ) by 800 A.D., it became clear that the best of the Roman past would impinge on the mindset of German leaders. Ultimately, researchers of German heritage will do well to become acquainted with the multitude of ways which ancient Rome and the Latin language influenced the ancestral past. GP

5 The Way Bavaria Liked it As Germans explain it, The Pompeiianum was built between 1840 and 1850 by order of Kaiser Ludwig I of Bavaria who had been inspired by the excavations in Pompeii.The Kaiser chose to build the Villa in Aschaffenburg because of its mild, sunny climate and its attractive position. The Pompeiianum was a place where art lovers could study antiquity (for more, see: The pictures in this FORUM were taken by me in 2005 when I saw the construct for the first time. Now let a few more pictures convey the impact of ancient Rome in the heart of Germany.

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7 All copyright privileges for this FORUM are reserved by the compiler; no item is to be duplicated or distributed without permission.) Do you have something to share in print? Submit your material to: For more about ggsig and past editions of the FORUM, check:

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