Georg Philipp
Harsdörffer

* 1st received November 2nd 1607 Fischbach b. Nuremberg – founded September 17, 1658 Nuremberg Grave No. D 60a in the Johannisfriedhof, epitaph around 1657, still extant. Son of Philip II. ∞ June 9, 1634 Susanna (* 1616 – † December 17, 1646), daughter of Hans Sigmund Fürer, five sons, three daughters. Attended the Nuremberg high school, 1623-26/27 studied philosophy, philology, mathematics, natural sciences and law in Altdorf and Strasbourg. This was followed by a four-year educational trip with Christoph Fürer to Geneva, France, the Netherlands, England and Italy. 1631 return to Nuremberg. Initially in administrative service, 1634 assessor at the lower court, 1637-55 at the city court. 1635-58 named, 1655 councilor. His thirst for knowledge was limitless; architecture, mathematics, mechanics, optics, astronomy, philosophy and theology were among his areas of interest, as were painting, music and poetry. Harsdörffer appears to have been extremely well read. In his main work “The Women's Conversation Games”, 8 vols., 1642-48, more than 800 works cited were identified. His language skills enabled him to read foreign literature and also translate it. His “Poetic Funnel” is one of the most important poetics of the Baroque period and has become proverbial as the “Nuremberg Funnel”. Harsdörffer was one of the most published poets of his time. His “Thinking Ring of the German Language”, which he published in his “Deliciae Mathematicae et Physicae - The Mathematical and Philosophical Refreshing Lessons Second Part”, is remarkable. The five rotating concentric disks contain 48 prefixes on the innermost disk, 24 suffixes on the outermost disk, the three middle disks contain 60 initial letters or consonant combinations, followed by 12 stem vowels or diphthongs and a total of 120 consonants or combinations thereof. By rotating the disks, all possible monosyllabic root words are formed in a combinatorial manner according to Georg Justus Schottelius' root word theory. In total, 97,209,600 of all existing and conceivable word formations are possible. The motto of Harsdörffer's work was the Horacean “use and delight”. His literary works comprise around 20,000 printed pages. There are also many spiritual songs. In later years he published various card games, of which the astronomical one has survived; a copy is in the GNM. In 1644, together with Johann Klaj, he wrote the Pegnesian Shepherd's Poem on the occasion of a double wedding, as it were as a founding document of the Pegnesian Flower Order, of which he became president; his religious name was “Strephon” (lily of the valley). In 1642 he became the 368th member of the Fruit-Bearing Society under the name “The Gambler”; As “The Art Player” he became a member of the German-minded Zesens Cooperative in 1644. Panzer recorded his portrait. His portrait, painted by Georg Strauch, is in the GNM. Harsdörfferplatz and Harsdörfferstrasse were named after him. His monument is located in the Pegnesian Order of Flowers' grove near Kraftshof. Works: Bibliography of his works see Heinz Zirnbauer, in: Mitt. a. d. StadtBN, 7, 1958, H. 3, pp. 2-32 and in Philobiblion V, 1961, H. 1, pp. 12-49. MuS: NUREMBERG, GNM; –, CityB. Lit.: ADB; NDB; Biedermann, 1748 plate CLIV B; Doppelmayr, 1730; Trechsel, 1735; Will, GL II, pp. 34-39 and VI, pp. 29f.; Hampe, 1900; F. T. Schulz, in: GNM M, 1907; W. Kayser: The sound painting by Harsdöffer, 1932; P. Strieder, in: Frankenspiegel 2, 1951; Bock, in: MVGN 53, 1965; Zirnbauer, in: Buhl, 1971; Wölfel, 1971, p. 50; H. Waibler, in: GNM A, 1975; Mushroom, 1977; Abeler, MdU, p. 257f.; I. M. Battafarano (ed.): Georg Philipp Harsdörffer, Bern et al. 1991; Jürgensen, 1994; Erlanger/Fischer, 2000; City lexicon 2000. Exhibit: 1957/1; 1959/8; 1968/3; 1970/3, –/5; 1998/11, p. 232. Hans Recknagel