Johann Gottfried Ludwig Kosegarten
Encyclopedia
Johann Gottfried Ludwig Kosegarten (September 10, 1792 - August 18, 1860) was a German Orientalist
who was born in Altenkirchen
on the island of Rügen
. He was the son of ecclesiastic Ludwig Gotthard Kosegarten
(1758-1818).
He studied theology
and philosophy
at the University of Greifswald, and from 1812 studied Oriental languages in Paris
. In 1815 he became an adjunct to the theological and philosophical faculty in Greifswald
. From 1817 to 1824 he was a professor of Oriental languages at the University of Jena, and afterwards a professor at Greifswald.
Kosegarten is remembered for translation and edition of Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit
poems, songs, fables, et al. Among his better known work involved the Arab song collection- Kitab al Aghani (1846), the Hindu poem Nala
(1820), the Persian fairy tale collection Tuti Nameh (1822) and the Indian fable collection Pantscha Tantra (1848). He was also a specialist at deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
In 1856-57 Kosegarten wrote a two-volume work on the history of the University of Greifswald called Geschichte der Universität Greifswald. His handwritten notes and collection of German and Oriental works were bequeathed to the University of Greifswald.
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...
who was born in Altenkirchen
Altenkirchen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Altenkirchen is a municipality in the north of the island of Rügen on the Baltic Sea coast of Germany. It is in the Vorpommern-Rügen district, in the federal state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern....
on the island of Rügen
Rügen
Rügen is Germany's largest island. Located in the Baltic Sea, it is part of the Vorpommern-Rügen district of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.- Geography :Rügen is located off the north-eastern coast of Germany in the Baltic Sea...
. He was the son of ecclesiastic Ludwig Gotthard Kosegarten
Ludwig Gotthard Kosegarten
Ludwig Gotthard Kosegarten , also known as Ludwig Theobul or Ludwig Theoboul, was a German poet and Lutheran preacher.Kosegarten was born in Grevesmühlen, then part of Swedish Pomerania...
(1758-1818).
He studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of Greifswald, and from 1812 studied Oriental languages in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1815 he became an adjunct to the theological and philosophical faculty in Greifswald
Greifswald
Greifswald , officially, the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald is a town in northeastern Germany. It is situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at an equal distance of about from Germany's two largest cities, Berlin and Hamburg. The town borders the Baltic Sea, and is crossed...
. From 1817 to 1824 he was a professor of Oriental languages at the University of Jena, and afterwards a professor at Greifswald.
Kosegarten is remembered for translation and edition of Arabic, Persian and 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...
poems, songs, fables, et al. Among his better known work involved the Arab song collection- Kitab al Aghani (1846), the Hindu poem Nala
Nala
Nala , a character in Hindu mythology, is the king of Nishadha Kingdom, son of Virasena. Nala is known for his skill with horses and culinary expertise. He marries princess Damayanti, of Vidarbha Kingdom, and their story is told in the Mahabharata. His main weakness is gambling...
(1820), the Persian fairy tale collection Tuti Nameh (1822) and the Indian fable collection Pantscha Tantra (1848). He was also a specialist at deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
In 1856-57 Kosegarten wrote a two-volume work on the history of the University of Greifswald called Geschichte der Universität Greifswald. His handwritten notes and collection of German and Oriental works were bequeathed to the University of Greifswald.