Page 80
58 Section 1.
BERLIN.
Platz am
with the towers on the adjacent Gendarmen-Markt (p. 121), the most
important creations of this King in his capital.
The University Buildings (PI. R, 23), formerly the palace
of Prince Henry, brother of Frederick II., built by the elder Bou-
mann in 1748-66 and fitted up in 1809 for the then recently-founded
university (Friedrich Wilhelms-Universitat), were remodelled in
the interior in 1891. In winter 1907-8 the university was attended by
ca. 8220 students and 1440 'hearers', and had a teaching-staff of 503.
The front garden is adjoined by seated figures of William (d. 1835)
and Alexander von Humboldt (d. 1859), the former by Paul Otto,
the latter by R. Begas. In the garden itself is a marble statue of
the physicist Helmholtz (d. 1894), by Herter (1899), which is to be
accompanied by others of the historians Treitschke (d. 1896), by
Siemering, and Mommsen (d. 1903), by Brutt. The Aula, formerly
the banqueting-hall of Prince Henry, contains busts of celebrated
professors. The Academic Inquiry Office (week-days 10-1.30) is
in the University Building opposite the porter's lodge.
Behind the University to the left of the Students' Reading Room
(p. 33) is the University Garden, and to the right is the Kastanien-
W&ldchen (chestnut grove), with a bronze statue, by Hartzer, of Mitscher-
lich (d. 1863), the chemist. Beyond the grove, in the Dorotheen-Str., is
a colossal bust of Hegel, the philosopher (d. 1831), by Blaser.
The Royal Library (Kbnigliche Bibliothek; PL R, 23, 22),
behind the Palace of Emp. AVilliam I. and facing the Opern-Platz,
was erected in 1775-80 by Boumann the Younger from plans drawn
by Unger, and is one of the most effective rococo structures in
Berlin, though sometimes likened to a chest of drawers. The build¬
ing is copied from a design by Fischer von Erlach for the Vienna
Hofburg. The motto below the cornice, 'nutrimentum spiritus', was
selected by Frederick the Great. Director, Prof. Harnack. Adm.,
see p. 39.
The Library, which was founded in 1661, now contains about 1,230,000
vols, and 30,000 MSS. Among the chief treasures may be mentioned part
of the MS. of Luther's translation of the Bible; early impressions of
the ninety-five Theses of 1517 and other works of Luther; Melanchthon's
report of the Diet of Worms; Joh. Agricola's letter from Eisleben on
Luther's death; Gutenberg's 42-line Bible on parchment, of 1450, the
first large book printed with movable types; the Codex Wittekindi, a MS.
of the Gospels of the 8th cent., said to have been presented by Charlemagne
to the Saxon duke Wittekind; water-colour portraits by Lucas Cranach;
Chinese books; a small octagonal Koran; important musical works, etc.
Some of the older pieces of music are of great historical interest.
Opposite the Library is the Opera House (PI. R, 23; perform¬
ances, see p. 27), erected by Knobelsdorff in 1741-43, and restored
by K. F. Langhans after a fire in 1843. The building is disfigured
by a number of iron staircases erected in 1904 to facilitate escape
in case of fire. The tympanum contains an admirable group in
zinc, by Rietschel (1844): in the centre the muse of music; on the
right the tragic and the comic muse with a satyr, the dramatic