Abstract
The present study follows the progress from classical to modern philology and from Antiquity to Modernity of the Czech teacher, traveller and writer Josef Wünsch. Initially, he had aspired to teach classical languages at Austrian grammar schools.
This study examines several reasons which made Wünsch give up this aspiration and get certified for teaching Czech and German instead. Several other school subjects entered his teaching career later.
Wünsch's attitude towards classical philologists underwent a gradual change from affi rmative to very reserved. Yet his ability to grasp the feel of Antiquity itself was well shown in his book on the topic of Pompeii.