Abstract

A lecture given by Albert Brackmann on Ernst Kantorowicz’s book Kaiser Friedrich der Zweite raised a great discussion about the use of historical sources and the epistemological status of historical sciences. The present article traces back this Mythenschau controversy arisen from these subjects through some articles appeared in the «Historische Zeitschrift», in the light of Kantorowicz’s relationship with the circle of Stefan George and taking account of the coeval academic debate about the “revolution in sciences” and objectivity in history . The purpose of this article is to display how Kantorowicz’s ideas of historical truth and historiography – which focus on symbols, myths, iconic and narrative sources – can be understood as key-point of the contemporary development of “cultural history” and “history of culture”