Oluf Rygh
Encyclopedia
Oluf Rygh was a noted Norwegian
archeologist, philologist and historian
. Oluf Rygh is recognized as one of the founders of professional archeology in Norway.
. His parents were Peder Strand Rygh (1800 to 1868) and Ingeborg Marie Bentsen (1809-1878). He was the older brother of Evald Rygh
and Karl Ditlev Rygh
. Oluf Rygh attended the Trondhjem Cathedral School in 1850 and went to the University of Christiania to study philology, where he graduated in 1856. In 1858, while a teacher at Nissens Skole in Christiania, he was a research fellow for history. Later he was a professor of classical philology, history and Scandinavian languages.
Rygh was professor of history at the Royal Frederick University
between 1866 and 1875. He was director of Oldsaksamlingen (which subsequently became the Museum of Cultural History
) from 1862 and professor of Nordic archeology from 1875 - the first professor of archeology at any Scandinavia
n university. His led excavation of the Tune ship
1867. His work Norske Oldsaker (Norwegian Antiquities) published in 1885 is recognized for its detailed illustrations and even today is still a significant reference source.
From 1879 to 1899 he chaired the Norwegian Historical Association
.
Oluf Rygh is best known for creation of Norske Gaardnavne
(Norwegian Farm Names), which is a 19 volume set of books based on a manuscript prepared from 1897 to 1924. The book contains a standardized notation, information on pronunciation, historical forms and the etymology
for recorded farm, estate and manor names in Norway
, which became the standard for place names in Norway. It inspired similar research in Sweden
and Denmark
. Rygh died during 1899 at Ulefoss
in Holla, Telemark
. At the time of his death, only three and one half volumes had been published.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
archeologist, philologist and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
. Oluf Rygh is recognized as one of the founders of professional archeology in Norway.
Background
Oluf Rygh was born in VerdalVerdal
Verdal is a municipality in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Innherad region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Verdalsøra...
. His parents were Peder Strand Rygh (1800 to 1868) and Ingeborg Marie Bentsen (1809-1878). He was the older brother of Evald Rygh
Evald Rygh
Evald Rygh was a Norwegian banker and politician for the Conservative Party. He served as Minister of Finance and Customs and mayor of Kristiania....
and Karl Ditlev Rygh
Karl Ditlev Rygh
Karl Ditlev Rygh was a Norwegian archaeologist and politician for the Conservative Party.He was born in Verdal, and was the brother of Evald og Oluf Rygh. He graduated as cand.philol. in 1863. He was hired as a teacher at Trondheim Cathedral School in 1866, and worked as headmaster there from 1887...
. Oluf Rygh attended the Trondhjem Cathedral School in 1850 and went to the University of Christiania to study philology, where he graduated in 1856. In 1858, while a teacher at Nissens Skole in Christiania, he was a research fellow for history. Later he was a professor of classical philology, history and Scandinavian languages.
Career
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
between 1866 and 1875. He was director of Oldsaksamlingen (which subsequently became the Museum of Cultural History
Museum of Cultural History
Museum of Cultural History is an organisation at the University of Oslo, Norway. It was established in 1999 as Universitetets kulturhistoriske museum with the merging of the bodies Oldsaksamlingen , Myntkabinettet og Etnografisk museum...
) from 1862 and professor of Nordic archeology from 1875 - the first professor of archeology at any Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n university. His led excavation of the Tune ship
Tune ship
The Tune ship is a Viking era ship exhibited in the Viking Ship Museum in Bygdøy, Oslo.The "karv" type ship was found at Haugen farm on Rolvsøy in Tune, Østfold, Norway. The ship was built around AD 900, and is made of clinkered oak planks. It was found in a boat burial mound...
1867. His work Norske Oldsaker (Norwegian Antiquities) published in 1885 is recognized for its detailed illustrations and even today is still a significant reference source.
From 1879 to 1899 he chaired the Norwegian Historical Association
Norwegian Historical Association
The Norwegian Historical Association is a Norwegian historical organization.It was founded in 1869 by Michael Birkeland and Ludvig Ludvigsen Daae. Its purpose was to publish the academic journal Historisk Tidsskrift, which it commenced in 1871...
.
Oluf Rygh is best known for creation of Norske Gaardnavne
Norske Gaardnavne
Norske Gaardnavne is a 19 volume set of books based on a manuscript prepared from 1897 to 1924 by Professor Oluf Rygh, a noted professor of archeology, philology and history at the University of Oslo...
(Norwegian Farm Names), which is a 19 volume set of books based on a manuscript prepared from 1897 to 1924. The book contains a standardized notation, information on pronunciation, historical forms and the etymology
Etymology
Etymology is the study of the history of words, their origins, and how their form and meaning have changed over time.For languages with a long written history, etymologists make use of texts in these languages and texts about the languages to gather knowledge about how words were used during...
for recorded farm, estate and manor names in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, which became the standard for place names in Norway. It inspired similar research in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. Rygh died during 1899 at Ulefoss
Ulefoss
Ulefoss is the administrative centre of Nome municipality, Norway. Its population is 2,699.-References:...
in Holla, Telemark
Holla, Telemark
Holla was a parish district and former municipality now located in municipality of Nome the in Telemark county, Norway.-History:Holla is situated in the traditional region of Midt-Telemark. Holla parish included the churches at Holla and Helgen both in Telemark county. The parish of Holden was...
. At the time of his death, only three and one half volumes had been published.