Wolfgang Helck
Encyclopedia
Hans Wolfgang Helck was a German Egyptologist
, considered one of the most important Egyptologists of the 20th century. From 1956 until his retirement in 1979 he was a Professor at the University of Hamburg
. He remained active after his retirement and together with Wolfhart Westendorf published the German Lexikon der Ägyptologie (Encyclopedia of Egyptology), completed in 1992. He published many books and articles on the history of Egyptian and Near Eastern culture. He was a member of the German Archaeological Institute
and a corresponding member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences
.
Helck was the son of philologist Hans Helck. He studied at the University of Leipzig
under Georg Steindorff
and at the University of Göttingen under Hermann Kees, completing his studies in 1938. He was a prisoner of war during World War II
, returning to Göttingen in 1947, completing his doctorate in 1951.
Egyptology
Egyptology is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religious practices in the AD 4th century. A practitioner of the discipline is an “Egyptologist”...
, considered one of the most important Egyptologists of the 20th century. From 1956 until his retirement in 1979 he was a Professor at the University of Hamburg
University of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
. He remained active after his retirement and together with Wolfhart Westendorf published the German Lexikon der Ägyptologie (Encyclopedia of Egyptology), completed in 1992. He published many books and articles on the history of Egyptian and Near Eastern culture. He was a member of the German Archaeological Institute
German Archaeological Institute
The German Archaeological Institute is an institution of research within the field of archaeology , and a "scientific corporation", with parentage of the federal Foreign Office of Germany-Origin:...
and a corresponding member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences
Göttingen Academy of Sciences
The Göttingen Academy of Sciences is the second oldest of the seven academies of sciences in Germany. It has the task of promoting research under its own auspices and in collaboration with academics in and outside Germany...
.
Helck was the son of philologist Hans Helck. He studied at the University 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...
under Georg Steindorff
Georg Steindorff
Georg Steindorff was a German Egyptologist.-Life:Georg Steindorff was a graduate of the Egyptology seminars of the University of Göttingen. He earned a doctorate in 1884 with a linguistic dissertation on Coptic noun forms...
and at the University of Göttingen under Hermann Kees, completing his studies in 1938. He was a prisoner of war during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, returning to Göttingen in 1947, completing his doctorate in 1951.
External links
- Works by and about Wolfgang Helck at the German National LibraryGerman National LibraryThe German National Library is the central archival library and national bibliographic centre for the Federal Republic of Germany...