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S: Pioneer Western Constellation Studies
40: Ludwig Ideler and Philipp Buttmann
In his popular book on star names Richard Allen mentions 2 early investigators of Western constellations and star names, and relies on one of them quite heavily. These early investigators are Ludwig Ideler and Philipp Buttmann. Allen placed heavy reliance on Ideler.
Ludwig Ideler
Christian Ludwig [sometimes Ludewig] Ideler (1766-1846) was a German astronomer, chronologist and philologist. He became a Professor at the University of Berlin in 1821. From 1816 to 1822 he was tutor to the young Prussian princes William and Charles. His life was largely devoted to the study of ancient systems of chronology. His publications include the book: Untersuchungen über den Ursprung und die Bedeutung der Sternnamen. (1809, reprinted 1994). This book is now thoroughly dated and unreliable.
Philipp Buttmann
Philipp Carl Buttmann (1764-1829) was a famous German classical philologist. He was very highly regarded and considered an excellent etymologer. In 1789 he was appointed Director of the Royal Prussian Library in Berlin. Beginning in 1796 he was Professor of Philology at the Joachimsthal Gymnasium in Berlin, for 12 years. In 1811 he was made Secretary of the Historico-Philological section of the (Berlin) Academy of Sciences. Circa 1800 he was the preeminent authority on classical star names. His publications include the lengthy paper: Über die Entstehung der Sternbilder auf der griechischen Sfäre. (1826, reprinted 1929). The paper is now thoroughly dated.
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