Knut Kleve
Encyclopedia
Knut Kleve is a Norwegian classical philologist
and a former professor at the University of Bergen
and at the University of Oslo
. He is particularly known for his efforts on restoration of papyrus fragments from the ancient Roman
town Herculaneum
.
, the son of wholesaler Alfred Lauritz Kleve and Miriam Blom Bakke. He was a resistance member during the German occupation of Norway
, and was arrested in May 1942 and incarcerated at Møllergata 19
and at the Grini concentration camp until June 1944. He was married to Ragnhild Abusdal from 1951 to 1952, to Esther Thylander from 1957 to 1972, to psychologist Kari Aud Ljøstad from 1972, and to professor Liv Jorunn Storstein from 1974 to 1992.
Eiliv Skard
, who gave him lessons in the Latin language. He finished his secondary education in 1945, with examen artium
at Kristelig Gymnasium
in Oslo. After studies at the University of Oslo
he graduated as cand.mag.
in 1955. He started lecturing in classical philology at the University of Oslo from 1957. Subject for his doctorate studies was the understanding of gods in the school of philosophy called Epicureanism
, including the philosophical work De natura deorum
by the Roman
orator Cicero
. His dr.philos. thesis from 1963 was called . He was a professor at the University of Bergen
from 1963. He became interested in the Epicurean library from Herculaneum
which had been excavated in the mid 18th century. He joined efforts to verify the writing on papyrus fragments. In 1974 Kleve was appointed professor at the University of Oslo. Along with Brynjulf Fosse he developed a new method for restoration of carbonized papyrus fragments. From 1983 he supervised restoration work in Napoli. These efforts have resulted in restoration of works by Lucretius
and Ennius
, and relicts of works by ancient comedy writer Caecilius Statius
.
He is a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
.
Classical philology
Classical philology is the study of ancient Greek and classical Latin. Classical philology has been defined as "the careful study of the literary and philosophical texts of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds." Greek and Latin literature and civilization have traditionally been considered...
and a former professor at the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
and at the University of Oslo
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...
. He is particularly known for his efforts on restoration of papyrus fragments from the ancient Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
town Herculaneum
Herculaneum
Herculaneum was an ancient Roman town destroyed by volcanic pyroclastic flows in AD 79, located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano, in the Italian region of Campania in the shadow of Mt...
.
Personal life
Kleve was born in OsloOslo
Oslo 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...
, the son of wholesaler Alfred Lauritz Kleve and Miriam Blom Bakke. He was a resistance member during the German occupation of Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, and was arrested in May 1942 and incarcerated at Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19
Møllergata 19 is an address in Oslo, Norway where the city's main police station and jail was located. The address gained notoriety during the German occupation from 1940 to 1945, when the Nazi security police kept its headquarters here...
and at the Grini concentration camp until June 1944. He was married to Ragnhild Abusdal from 1951 to 1952, to Esther Thylander from 1957 to 1972, to psychologist Kari Aud Ljøstad from 1972, and to professor Liv Jorunn Storstein from 1974 to 1992.
Career
While incarcerated at Grini, Kleve met co-prisoner and professor of classical philologyClassical philology
Classical philology is the study of ancient Greek and classical Latin. Classical philology has been defined as "the careful study of the literary and philosophical texts of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds." Greek and Latin literature and civilization have traditionally been considered...
Eiliv Skard
Eiliv Skard
Eiliv Skard was a Norwegian classical philologist.-Personal life:He was born in Levanger as a son of educators Matias Skard and Gyda Christensen . The family moved to Kristiansand in 1901...
, who gave him lessons in the Latin language. He finished his secondary education in 1945, with examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
at Kristelig Gymnasium
Kristelig Gymnasium
Kristelig Gymnasium , founded in 1913, is a private Christian school located in Oslo, Norway.The school offers 3 years of studies at the level of Videregående skole, in addition to grades 8, 9 and 10 ....
in Oslo. After studies at the University of Oslo
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...
he graduated as cand.mag.
Cand.mag.
Candidatus magisterii , Candidata magisterii , i.e. Latin Candidate of Arts, abbreviated cand.mag., is an academic degree used in Denmark, and formerly in Norway and Iceland, roughly corresponding to an American Master of Arts and officially translated as such...
in 1955. He started lecturing in classical philology at the University of Oslo from 1957. Subject for his doctorate studies was the understanding of gods in the school of philosophy called Epicureanism
Epicureanism
Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based upon the teachings of Epicurus, founded around 307 BC. Epicurus was an atomic materialist, following in the steps of Democritus. His materialism led him to a general attack on superstition and divine intervention. Following Aristippus—about whom...
, including the philosophical work De natura deorum
De Natura Deorum
De Natura Deorum is a philosophical dialogue by Roman orator Cicero written in 45 BC. It is laid out in three "books", each of which discuss the theology of different Roman and Greek philosophers...
by the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
orator Cicero
Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero , was a Roman philosopher, statesman, lawyer, political theorist, and Roman constitutionalist. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order, and is widely considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists.He introduced the Romans to the chief...
. His dr.philos. thesis from 1963 was called . He was a professor at the University of Bergen
University of Bergen
The University of Bergen is located in Bergen, Norway. Although founded as late as 1946, academic activity had taken place at Bergen Museum as far back as 1825. The university today serves more than 14,500 students...
from 1963. He became interested in the Epicurean library from Herculaneum
Herculaneum
Herculaneum was an ancient Roman town destroyed by volcanic pyroclastic flows in AD 79, located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano, in the Italian region of Campania in the shadow of Mt...
which had been excavated in the mid 18th century. He joined efforts to verify the writing on papyrus fragments. In 1974 Kleve was appointed professor at the University of Oslo. Along with Brynjulf Fosse he developed a new method for restoration of carbonized papyrus fragments. From 1983 he supervised restoration work in Napoli. These efforts have resulted in restoration of works by Lucretius
Lucretius
Titus Lucretius Carus was a Roman poet and philosopher. His only known work is an epic philosophical poem laying out the beliefs of Epicureanism, De rerum natura, translated into English as On the Nature of Things or "On the Nature of the Universe".Virtually no details have come down concerning...
and Ennius
Ennius
Quintus Ennius was a writer during the period of the Roman Republic, and is often considered the father of Roman poetry. He was of Calabrian descent...
, and relicts of works by ancient comedy writer Caecilius Statius
Caecilius Statius
Statius Caecilius, also known as Caecilius Statius was a Roman comic poet.A contemporary and intimate friend of Ennius, he was born in the territory of the Insubrian Gauls, probably in Mediolanum, and was probably taken as a prisoner to Rome , during the great Gallic war...
.
He is 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...
.