Christianeum

Christianeum Hamburg

Latin: Christianeum gymnasium academicum altonensis
Motto	"supernis alimur viribus"
Type	grammar school
Established	1738
Principal	Mrs. Diana Amann
Administrative staff	<100
Students	1078
Location	Othmarschen, Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Campus	Otto-Ernst-Strasse 22, Hamburg
Website	http://www.christianeum.org/

The Gymnasium Christianeum in Hamburg is a famous former "Latin school" (German: Lateinschule) in Hamburg, northern Germany. Founded in 1738 by King Christian VI of Denmark, it is now housed in a building planned by Danish designer Arne Jacobsen.

The first Latin school here was founded as early as 1688 (according to other sources: 1683) in Altona (now a part of Hamburg). Decades later the school acquired the status of a famous Gymnasium, the most famous in the duchy of Holstein, and was re-founded by Christian VI. In 1971 the school was relocated from Hamburg-Altona to its current location in the quarter Othmarschen.The history of the Christianeum reflects also the history of Altona, Schleswig Holstein and Denmark.

In 1738 when the first eight students enlisted themselves. Two years later the founder Christian the VI. visited the new school. In the following years the school expanded. In 1745 it had already 45 students and four years later the first Jewish student attended the school. Between 1738 and 1800 many famous intellectuals attended the christianeum as the philosopher Salomon Maimon and the poet Johann Christoph Unzer or the famous Danish painter Jes Bundsen.

In 1816, king Frederik the VI donated the FLORA DANICA, one of the most precious treasures, even nowadays, to the library of the Christianeum, just 16 years later the distinguished historian Theodor Mommsen attended the school. He is probably one of the most famous students the school has ever had. In 1853 followed the philosopher Friedrich Paulsen. In 1880 the Christianeum was rebuilt. In 1885 461 students attended the Christianeum and in the same year the first school trip was made. The 150-anniversary was celebrated in 1888.

In 1902 Theodor Mommsen received the Nobel Prize for Literature. In 1900 Hermann Weyls became a student of the school. He was going to be one of the very well established scientists of the 20th century in mathematics.