For the first time, the highly significant correspondence between Goethe and the renowned Leipzig classical philologist Gottfried Hermann (1772-1848) is presented in full, after only Goethe's letters had previously been published completely. The editors provide insight into this relationship through a detailed chronicle of the contacts that began in 1797, as well as by including texts by Goethe that were inspired by Hermann's suggestions. This exchange mirrors a similar yet personally conflict-ridden relationship Goethe had with the classicist Friedrich August Wolf. Hermann's letters, accompanied by his essays and text editions, particularly illuminate Goethe's efforts to reconstruct fragments of ancient tragedies. This glimpse into the virtuous interplay of poetry and philology could rekindle interest in ancient languages and classical themes even today.