In genealogies, Goethe genealogy, diagrammed below, refers to the ancestors and descendants of German polyintellect Johann Goethe (1749-1832).
Generations
The genealogy of Goethe is unique in that although it can be traced back through eleven generations, his seed only carried forward through two generations, and in this sense, it is more apt to say correctly that we are the progeny of his prolific output. [1]
First generation
Second generation
A | | B | | C |
Jo hann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) | + | Christiane Vulpius (1765-1816) | → | August von Goethe (1789-1830) |
Third generation
A
|
| B
|
| C + D + E
|
August Goethe (1789-1830) | + | Ottilie Pogwisch (1796-1872) | → | Walter Wolfgang von Goethe (1818-1885)
|
|
|
|
| Maximilian Wolfgang von Goethe (1820-1883)
|
|
|
|
| Sedina Alma Henrietta Cornelia von Goethe (1827-1844) |
Goethe’s grandchildren Walter and Maximilian, as it has been noted, turned homosexual in mating behaviors, thus producing no offspring, and their sister Sedina (Alma), ended at the age of 17 during the typhoid epidemic, thus producing no offspring—hence, stands the 1885 passage on Walter's tombstone: [2]
Inscription (German) | Inscription (German) |  |
Walther von Goethe
born 9th April 1818 in Weimar, died in Leipzig 15th April 1885.
With him went out Goethe's seed, whose name survives forever. |
Walther von Goethe geb. zu Weimar 9ten April 1818, gest zu Leipzig 15ten April 1885.
Mit ihm verlosch Goethes Geschlecht, dessen Namme alle Zeiten überdauert. |
Discussion
In genius studies (see "marriage" section of the genius page), there seems to exist some yet unwritten law according to which genius level is directly proportional, in increasing amount, to the amount of passion, devotion, and time one puts into his or her work, which is reciprocal, in decreasing amount, to the amount of passion, devotion, and time one puts into his or her relationships and family, which has some sort of trickle down effect.
In respect to Goethe and his offspring lineage termination, some unnamed principle or law at work here, in the neighborhood of "having one's cake and eating it to", in regards to elite geniuses and progeny, something akin to the two being inversely proportional to each other, as in Beckhap's law.
References
1. Goethe genealogy (see bottom) – The Esoteric Redux, Blogspot.com.
2. Grabtafel (grave panel) of Walther von Goethe – Wikipedia.
Threads
● Goethe’s modern day ancestors (2014)