Hermann Brockhaus
Encyclopedia
Hermann Brockhaus was a German Orientalist
born in Amsterdam
. He was a leading authority on Sanskrit
and Persian language
s. He was the son of publisher Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus
and brother-in-law to composer Richard Wagner
.
at the Universities of Leipzig
, Göttingen and Bonn
where he was a student of August Wilhelm von Schlegel
, the founder of German Indology
. Afterwards he spent several years in France and England. In 1839 he was appointed professor at the University of Jena, teaching Sanskrit
and Persian beginning in the summer term of 1840. Together with his colleague Johann Gustav Stickel
(who taught Semitic languages
), Brockhaus established Oriental Philology at the School of Humanities at Jena. In 1842 Brockhaus followed an appointment to Leipzig, where in 1848 he was appointed a full professor of ancient languages and literature at the university.
, and an edition of songs by the Persian lyric poet Hafez
(Lieder des Hafis). He also published an edition of the Vendidâd Sâde
, an edition of a philosophical drama by Krishna Mishra called Prabodhachandrodaya and was the author of the influential Über den Druck sanskritischer Werke mit lateinischen Buchstaben (Concerning Sanskrit Works Printed in the Latin Alphabet
).
From 1853 he was editor of the Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft (Journal of the German Oriental Society), and for a period of time was editor of the Ersch-Gruber Allgemeine Encyklopädie.
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
born in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. He was a leading authority on Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and Persian language
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
s. He was the son of publisher Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus
Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus
Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus was a German encyclopedia publisher and editor, famed for publishing the Conversations-Lexikon, which is now published as the Brockhaus encyclopedia.-Biography:...
and brother-in-law to composer Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
.
Academic career
He studied Oriental languagesOriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
at the Universities of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, Göttingen and Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
where he was a student of August Wilhelm von Schlegel
August Wilhelm von Schlegel
August Wilhelm Schlegel was a German poet, translator, critic, and a foremost leader of German Romanticism. His translations of Shakespeare made the English dramatist's works into German classics.-Life and work:Schlegel was born at Hanover, where his father, Johann Adolf Schlegel, was a Lutheran...
, the founder of German Indology
Indology
Indology is the academic study of the history and cultures, languages, and literature of the Indian subcontinent , and as such is a subset of Asian studies....
. Afterwards he spent several years in France and England. In 1839 he was appointed professor at the University of Jena, teaching Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and Persian beginning in the summer term of 1840. Together with his colleague Johann Gustav Stickel
Johann Gustav Stickel
Johann Gustav Stickel was a German theologian, orientalist and numismatist.- Biography :Stickel was born in Eisenach in 1805. He went to school in Buttelstedt and in Weimar. In his youth he demonstrated a gift for the Hebrew language...
(who taught Semitic languages
Semitic languages
The Semitic languages are a group of related languages whose living representatives are spoken by more than 270 million people across much of the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa...
), Brockhaus established Oriental Philology at the School of Humanities at Jena. In 1842 Brockhaus followed an appointment to Leipzig, where in 1848 he was appointed a full professor of ancient languages and literature at the university.
Written works
Among his better written works was an edition of tales by Somadeva Bhatta known as Kathâsarit-sâgaraKathasaritsagara
Kathasaritsagara is a famous 11th-century collection of Indian legends, fairy tales and folk tales as retold by a Saivite Brahmin named Somadeva....
, and an edition of songs by the Persian lyric poet Hafez
Hafez
Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī , known by his pen name Hāfez , was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day...
(Lieder des Hafis). He also published an edition of the Vendidâd Sâde
Vendidad
The Vendidad or Videvdat is a collection of texts within the greater compendium of the Avesta. However, unlike the other texts of the Avesta, the Vendidad is an ecclesiastical code, not a liturgical manual.-Name:...
, an edition of a philosophical drama by Krishna Mishra called Prabodhachandrodaya and was the author of the influential Über den Druck sanskritischer Werke mit lateinischen Buchstaben (Concerning Sanskrit Works Printed in the Latin Alphabet
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
).
From 1853 he was editor of the Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft (Journal of the German Oriental Society), and for a period of time was editor of the Ersch-Gruber Allgemeine Encyklopädie.