Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen

Quick Facts: Who was Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen?

Subject:

Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen

Known for:

Swedish professor and renowned orientalist specializing in Semitic languages, particularly Arabic.

Born:

1866-08-18

Died:

1953-06-01

Century / Era:

1866s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen (18 August 1866 – June 1, 1953) was a Swedish professor and orientalist. Zetterstéen was born at Orsa in Dalarna, Sweden. He began his studies at Uppsala University in 1884, became a Ph.D. and docent of Semitic languages in 1895. He also studied under professor Eduard Sachau (1845–1930) at the University of Berlin. He was acting professor of Oriental languages at Lund University 1895-1904 and professor of Semitic languages in Uppsala 1904–1931.

Career & Major Achievements

As a semitist, Zetterstéen was foremost an Arabic philologist, but he was also well-oriented in non-Semitic languages such as Persian, Turkish and Nubian. Beside a large number of text editions and studies, he published a Swedish translation of the Qur'an and wrote several articles in the Nordisk familjebok as well as a number of popular works. Zawāwī (al-), Yaḥyʹa ibn ʻAbd al-Muʻṭī (1900), Zetterstéen, KV (ed.), al-Durrah al-alfīyah fī ʻilm al-ʻarabīyah (thesis, 1895) (in Arabic), translated by Zetterstéen, KV, Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs. Qur'an (Stockholm, 1917) Refik, Ahmet (1920) [1919], Baltadjy Mehemed pascha och Peter den store 1711-1911 (from Turkish) (in Swedish), Karolinska förbundet yearbook. Refik, Ahmet (1922), "Karl Järnhuvud i Turkiet", Le Monde Oriental (in Swedish) (XVI), translated by Zetterstéen, K.V. Hussein, Taha (2012), "Dagarna ('al-Ayyām')", Litteratur, Idéhistoria och Religion (in Swedish and Arabic), translated by Zetterstéen, K.V., University of Gothenburg Ibn Sa'd, Muḥammad (1905).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Sachau, Eduard; Zettersteen, K.V.; Brocklemann, C.; Horovitz, J.; Lippert, J.; Meissner, B.; Mittwoch, E.; Schwally, F. (eds.). Biographien Muhammeds, seiner Gefährten und der späteren Träger des Islams, bis zum Jahre 230 der Flucht. (Kitāb al-ṭabaqāt al-kabīr) (in Arabic). Shams al-'ulum wa-dawa' kalam al-'Arab min al- kulum (‘The sun of Wisdom and Remedy for the Arabic Language's Lesions’) by Nashwān ibn Saʻīd al-Ḥimyarī*Ḥimyarī (al-), Nashwān ibn Saʻīd (1951). Šams al-ʻulūm wa-dawāʼ kalām al-ʻArab min al-kulūm (in Arabic).

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1845: 1845 Milestone — He also studied under professor Eduard Sachau (1845–1930) at the University of Berlin.
2. 1866 (1866-08-18): Birth of Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen — Swedish professor and renowned orientalist specializing in Semitic languages, particularly Arabic.
3. 1884: 1884 Milestone — He began his studies at Uppsala University in 1884, became a Ph.
4. 1895: 1895 Milestone — and docent of Semitic languages in 1895.
5. 1900: 1900 Milestone — Zawāwī (al-), Yaḥyʹa ibn ʻAbd al-Muʻṭī (1900), Zetterstéen, KV (ed.
6. 1905: 1905 Milestone — , University of Gothenburg Ibn Sa'd, Muḥammad (1905).
7. 1917: 1917 Milestone — Qur'an (Stockholm, 1917) Refik, Ahmet (1920) [1919], Baltadjy Mehemed pascha och Peter den store 1711-1911 (from Turkish) (in Swedish), Karolinska förbundet yearbook.
8. 1922: 1922 Milestone — Refik, Ahmet (1922), "Karl Järnhuvud i Turkiet", Le Monde Oriental (in Swedish) (XVI), translated by Zetterstéen, K.
9. 1951: 1951 Milestone — Shams al-'ulum wa-dawa' kalam al-'Arab min al- kulum (‘The sun of Wisdom and Remedy for the Arabic Language's Lesions’) by Nashwān ibn Saʻīd al-Ḥimyarī*Ḥimyarī (al-), Nashwān ibn Saʻīd (1951).
10. 1953 (1953-06-01): Passing & Historical Legacy — Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen passed away on 1953-06-01, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
11. 2012: 2012 Milestone — Hussein, Taha (2012), "Dagarna ('al-Ayyām')", Litteratur, Idéhistoria och Religion (in Swedish and Arabic), translated by Zetterstéen, K.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen

True or False: “Did Karl Vilhelm Zetterstéen focus exclusively on Arabic philology throughout his entire career?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While foremost an Arabic philologist, he was also well-oriented in non-Semitic languages such as Persian, Turkish, and Nubian.

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