Walter Friedrich Otto, born on 28 June 1874 in Hechingen (Hohenzollern); was the son of pharmacist Hermann Otto Ernest, who soon after moved to Stutgart. There he attended the school of humanities Eberhard Ludwig, from autumn 1882, and submitted in 1892, instead of the normal school, to what was called "competition" that is a test that conferred the right of admission Protestant theological seminary of Tübingen. After a year of theological studies he switched to classical philology. Teachers were Otto Crusius, Ludwig Schwabe, Wilhelm Schmid, who was due mainly advice to continue his studies in Bonn, under the aegis of the great masters and Franz Hermann Usener Bücheler. From the latter he received Otto impressions so strong and decisive that for more than two decades all his scientific activity was devoted to the language, literature and Roman religion. Epicurus is the last of his completed works that he revised for publication and first appeared in his posthumous compilation of texts (Das Wort der Antike, Klett 1962).