Athenäum

German literary periodical

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June 18, 2026

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The Athenaeum was a literary periodical associated with Jena Romanticism, a significant movement in German literature from approximately 1798 to 1804. Led by Ludwig Tieck, this group, including brothers August Wilhelm and Friedrich von Schlegel, established the theoretical foundations of Romanticism within the pages of the Athenaeum. They emphasized the importance of artistic genius and individual expression. The periodical served as a platform for philosophical and literary ideas, with contributions influencing various fields, from poetry to theology. The term "athenaeum" itself refers to a place for books and periodicals or a literary association.12

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August Wilhelm von Schlegel
>Athenäum (1798–1800), which became the organ of German Romanticism, numbering Friedrich Schleiermacher and Novalis among its contributors.
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>Athenäum (1798–1800), which became the organ of German Romanticism, numbering Friedrich Schleiermacher and Novalis among its contributors.
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Friedrich von Schlegel
… and Fragmente (contributed to the Athenäum and other journals); his conception of a universal, historical, and comparative literary scholarship has had profound influence.
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… and Fragmente (contributed to the Athenäum and other journals); his conception of a universal, historical, and comparative literary scholarship has had profound influence.
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