Kjell Aartun
Encyclopedia
Kjell Aartun is a Norwegian theologian and linguist. He is considered a leading expert on Semitic
languages, particularly the Ugaritic language
, but is also known for several controversial theories on runic interpretation and the origin of Minoan civilization
. Aartun received a government scholarship (statsstipendiat) in 1983 and received HM The King's Medal of Merit
in Gold for his scientific work in 2001. He has been a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
since 1986, and is also a member of the Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft
.
degree in 1954, and an additional degree in Greek in 1956. He was a Research Fellow from 1956 to 1961 and a Research Fellow/Lecturer from 1962 to 1965. Aartun was Research Fellow in West Berlin from 1965 to 1968, and Lecturer/Associate Professor at Stavanger lærerhøgskole from 1968 to 1992. He was also a Docent
in Jerusalem in 1971, director of the Swedish Theological Institute in Jerusalem in 1974 and Docent
of Semitic Languages at Lund University
from 1976 until 1978. He obtained the dr. philos. degree in 1978, with a dissertation on the Ugaritic language
in two volumes titled Die Partikeln des Ugaritischen (Kevelaer
, 1974/1978).
In his extensive two-volume work on Minoan civilization, Die Minoische Schrift (Harrassowitz Verlag
, 1992/1997), Aartun asserts that the ancient Minoan culture was Semitic
. His book Runer i kulturhistorisk sammenheng (Pax Forlag
, 1994) asserts that Runic inscriptions found in Scandinavia were written in a Semitic language. These publications have made him a controversial figure since the early 1990s, with critics accusing him of producing pseudoscience
.
His autobiography, Et forskerliv i Janteland ("A Researchers Life in the Country of Jante
"), was published in 2004.
Semitic
In linguistics and ethnology, Semitic was first used to refer to a language family of largely Middle Eastern origin, now called the Semitic languages...
languages, particularly the Ugaritic language
Ugaritic language
The following table shows Proto-Semitic phonemes and their correspondences among Ugaritic, Arabic and Tiberian Hebrew:-Grammar:Ugaritic is an inflected language, and as a Semitic language its grammatical features are highly similar to those found in Classical Arabic and Akkadian...
, but is also known for several controversial theories on runic interpretation and the origin of Minoan civilization
Minoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
. Aartun received a government scholarship (statsstipendiat) in 1983 and received HM The King's Medal of Merit
HM The King's Medal of Merit
The King's Medal of Merit is a Norwegian award. It was instituted in 1908 to reward meritorious achievements in the fields of art, science, business and public service. It is divided in two classes: gold and silver. The medal in gold is rewarded for extraordinary achievements of importance to the...
in Gold for his scientific work in 2001. He has been a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
since 1986, and is also a member of the Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft
Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft
The Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft , in English the German Oriental Society, is a scholarly organization dedicated to studies of Asia and the broader Orient....
.
Career
Aartun obtained the Cand.theol.Cand.theol.
Candidatus theologiæ , Candidata theologiæ , abbreviated cand. theol. is an academic degree with a long tradition, awarded after a six year higher education in theology in Denmark and Norway. In Norway, the title has remained after the "Quality Reform", though it is equivalent to a Master of...
degree in 1954, and an additional degree in Greek in 1956. He was a Research Fellow from 1956 to 1961 and a Research Fellow/Lecturer from 1962 to 1965. Aartun was Research Fellow in West Berlin from 1965 to 1968, and Lecturer/Associate Professor at Stavanger lærerhøgskole from 1968 to 1992. He was also a Docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
in Jerusalem in 1971, director of the Swedish Theological Institute in Jerusalem in 1974 and Docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
of Semitic Languages at Lund University
Lund University
Lund University , located in the city of Lund in the province of Scania, Sweden, is one of northern Europe's most prestigious universities and one of Scandinavia's largest institutions for education and research, frequently ranked among the world's top 100 universities...
from 1976 until 1978. He obtained the dr. philos. degree in 1978, with a dissertation on the Ugaritic language
Ugaritic language
The following table shows Proto-Semitic phonemes and their correspondences among Ugaritic, Arabic and Tiberian Hebrew:-Grammar:Ugaritic is an inflected language, and as a Semitic language its grammatical features are highly similar to those found in Classical Arabic and Akkadian...
in two volumes titled Die Partikeln des Ugaritischen (Kevelaer
Kevelaer
Kevelaer is a municipality in the district of Kleve, in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It is the best visited Catholic pilgrimage location within north-western Europe. More than 800,000 pilgrims, mostly from Germany and the Netherlands, visit Kevelaer every year to honour the Virgin Mary.The...
, 1974/1978).
In his extensive two-volume work on Minoan civilization, Die Minoische Schrift (Harrassowitz Verlag
Harrassowitz Verlag
Harrassowitz Verlag is a German academic publishing house, based in Wiesbaden. It publishes about 150 scholarly books and periodicals per year on Oriental, Slavic and Book and Library Studies. The publishing house is part of the company Otto Harrassowitz GmbH & Co. KG, founded by Otto...
, 1992/1997), Aartun asserts that the ancient Minoan culture was Semitic
Semitic
In linguistics and ethnology, Semitic was first used to refer to a language family of largely Middle Eastern origin, now called the Semitic languages...
. His book Runer i kulturhistorisk sammenheng (Pax Forlag
Pax Forlag
Pax Forlag is a Norwegian publishing house, established in 1964.Pax Forlag has issued a selected reprint of the "working class" encyclopaedia Arbeidernes Leksikon in 1974, and the political encyclopaedia Pax Leksikon ....
, 1994) asserts that Runic inscriptions found in Scandinavia were written in a Semitic language. These publications have made him a controversial figure since the early 1990s, with critics accusing him of producing pseudoscience
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
.
His autobiography, Et forskerliv i Janteland ("A Researchers Life in the Country of Jante
Jante Law
The Jante Law is a pattern of group behaviour towards individuals within Scandinavian communities, which negatively portrays and criticises individual success and achievement as unworthy and inappropriate.The Danish-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose...
"), was published in 2004.
Selected publications
- Die Partikeln des Ugaritischen, 2 vol., KevelaerKevelaerKevelaer is a municipality in the district of Kleve, in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. It is the best visited Catholic pilgrimage location within north-western Europe. More than 800,000 pilgrims, mostly from Germany and the Netherlands, visit Kevelaer every year to honour the Virgin Mary.The...
, Butzon & Bercker, 1974/1978 - Die Minoische Schrift, 2 vol., WiesbadenWiesbadenWiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, Harrassowitz VerlagHarrassowitz VerlagHarrassowitz Verlag is a German academic publishing house, based in Wiesbaden. It publishes about 150 scholarly books and periodicals per year on Oriental, Slavic and Book and Library Studies. The publishing house is part of the company Otto Harrassowitz GmbH & Co. KG, founded by Otto...
, 1992/1997 - Runer i kulturhistorisk sammenheng: En fruktharhetskultisk tradisjon, OsloOsloOslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Pax ForlagPax ForlagPax Forlag is a Norwegian publishing house, established in 1964.Pax Forlag has issued a selected reprint of the "working class" encyclopaedia Arbeidernes Leksikon in 1974, and the political encyclopaedia Pax Leksikon ....
, 1994 - Et forskerliv i Janteland, Oslo, Kolofon, 2004