[Bilimsel Haber] Conf: "Johan-David Åkerblad – Swedish scholar in the Orient in the late 18 th century"

[ONUR INAL]

Thursday 23 November at 7 pm
Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul
Istiklal Caddesi 497 Tünel, ISTANBUL

Fredrik Thomasson: "Johan-David Åkerblad – Swedish scholar in the Orient in the late 18 th century"

Johan David Åkerblad ( Stockholm 1763- Rome1819) spent several years in Constantinople during the 1780´s and 90´s in Swedish diplomatic service. He travelled widely in the Eastern Mediterranean and his language proficiency was such that he could travel in disguise throughout the Ottoman Empire . He later became famous as one of the precursors of Champollion, publishing on the Demotic
inscription of the Rosetta stone in 1802. He settled in Rome in 1809 and died there in 1819. He had a vast scholarly network and published on Greek and various Semitic languages as well as leading archaeological exploits in Rome .

The lecture will focus on Åkerblad´s experiences in Constantinople , both personal and scientific, and his lifelong quest for “Oriental” knowledge.

Fredrik Thomasson is a researcher at the European University Institute in Florence at the Department of History and Civilization. He is currently writing on Oriental studies and the international networks of Oriental and classical scholars in the 18 th and early 19 th centuries.