Johann Wilhelm Adolf Kirchhoff (6 January 1826 – 26 February 1908) was a German classical scholar and epigraphist.

Biography

The son of historical painter Johann Jakob Kirchhoff, he was born in Berlin, and educated there. He then taught in various colleges until, in 1865, he was appointed professor of classical philology at the University of Berlin, where he remained for the rest of his life. Kirchhoff's scientific studies covered a wide range in linguistics, antiquities, and Greek epigraphy. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1888.

Writings

The following works are the result of his epigraphical and palaeographical studies: The second part of volume iv. of the Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum (1859, containing the Christian inscriptions) and volume i. of the Corpus Inscriptionum Atticarum (1873, containing the inscriptions before 403) with supplements thereto (volume iv. pts. 13, 1877–1891) are edited by him. From 1860 to 1902, he was in charge of the Inscriptiones Graecae. He edited Hermes (1866–81).