Franz Skutsch

Franz Skutsch (6 January, 1865 – 29 September, 1912) was a German classical philologist and linguist born in Neisse. He was the father of classical philologist Otto Skutsch (1906-1990).

He studied classical philology and Indo-European studies at the Universities of Heidelberg and Breslau, and was a student of Georg Wissowa (1859-1931) at the latter institution. In 1888 he earned his doctorate at the University of Bonn and received his habilitation in 1890 at Breslau. In 1896 he became a full professor at the University of Breslau and the successor to Friedrich Marx (1859-1941).

Skutsch is remembered for his expert linguistic/philological treatment of the Roman playwright Plautus and was the author of the acclaimed Plautinisches und Romanisches (1892). With linguist Paul Kretschmer (1866-1956) he was co-founder of the journal Glotta. He was also an honorary member of the Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften in Athen (Society of Sciences in Athens), and a corresponding member of the Bavarian Academy.

Selected written works

References