Helmut Humbach Explained

Helmut Humbach
Birth Date:1921 4, df=yes
Birth Place:Munich, Germany
Death Place:Mainz, Germany
Nationality:German
Thesis Year:1951
Main Interests:Gathas

Helmut Humbach (* December 4, 1921 in Munich; † April 3, 2017 in Mainz) was a German linguist and Iranist. He was a professor of Indo-European philology at University of Mainz.[1] He is recognized particularly for his work on the Gathas of Zarathustra.

Career

After completing his military service in World War II, Helmut Humbach studied Indo-European linguistics at University of Munich under Ferdinand Sommer. In 1951 he received his doctorate and habilitated on the recommendation of Karl Hoffmann in 1954 with a translation of the Gathas. In 1956 he became a full professor of comparative linguistics at Saarland University and from 1958 for Oriental Studies at the same university. From 1961 until his retirement, he was professor of Indo-European philology at University of Mainz. In 1972, he became a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. His assistants included Jean Kellens and Prods Oktor Skjærvø.

Research

Helmut Humbach's research focussed on pre-Islamic languages and the history of Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. This includes, in particular, the Avestan language, Zoroastrianism as well as the Sassanid and Bactrian epigraphy. Helmut Humbach spent his life studying the Geographike Hyphegesis of Claudius Ptolemy, in particular volume 6, which covers the regions of Iran and Central Asia.

His main work was the translation of the Gathas. In was first published in German in 1959 as Die Gathas des Zarathustra. A substantially revised and expanded version of his translation was published in English in 1991 as The Gathas of Zarathustra and the Other Old Avestan Texts. In 1994, he also published a different English translation of the Gathas, which had a stronger focuss on readability. Shortly before his death, he published a monograph reviewing his own work.

Recognition

Humbach is mostly recognized for his translation of the Gathas, which have been described as the most faithful translations into a Western language. In addition, his work on the Gathas is seen as a turning point in their interpretation. Before Humbach, the Gathas were considered to be biographically infused, reflections on the theology system created by Zarathustra. Beginning with Humbach, however, the Gathas began to be increasingly seen as hymns directed to Ahura Mazda and intended to be performed at the sacrifice.

Honors

The impact of his work on the studies of Zoroastrianism was repeatedly recognized through a number of honors. In 1986, a Festschrift was published on the occasion of his 65th birthday. In 2001, a second Festschrift was published on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Finally, in 2017, a book was issued in honor of his 95th birthday.

Selected works

See also

References

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: July 4, 2017 . Prof. Dr. Helmut Humbach verstorben . March 30, 2024 . fb05.uni-mainz.de.

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