CLOSS, Alois. Neumarkt in Steiermark 27.10.1893 — 10.1.1984. Austrian Iranian Scholar. Librarian in Graz. Son of Alois Closs, a court official, and Rosa Halm, brother the Germanist August Closs. Educated in Graz, 1911-15 studies of theology at Graz (Dr.theol.). In 1915-21 minister and teacher of religion in Graz, 1921-41 Religionsprofessor at Bundesgymnasium in Graz. In 1921-27 studies of science at Graz (Dr.phil.). Then further studies of religion, Oriental languages (under Rhodokanakis) and IE and Iranian philology (Reichelt) at Graz and in 1933-36 at Vienna Iranian (B. Geiger), Elamite (König), ethnology, physical anthropology, German philology and Protestant theology. In 1936 habilitation for Religionsgeschichte at Faculty of Theology, Graz. In 1945 moved (Umhabilitation) to Phil. Faculty, now for Historische Ethnologie. In 1941-58 served in Steiermark Landesbibliothek, then retired. Taught still at the university, where he was conferred Professor’s title, until illness forced him to retire in 1968.
Publications: “Altpersiens religiöse Leistung und Tragik”, Missionswiss. und Religionswiss. 1953, 35-56; “Die gnostische Erlösungsidee und Zarathustra”, Festschrift J. F. Schütz 1954; “Anahita”, Religionswiss. Wörterbuch 1956; “Neue Deutung Zarathustras”, Anthropos 1963; “Erlösendes Wissen”, Akten der Gnosis-Symposium in Messina. 1977.
– “Der Schamanismus bei den Indoeuropäern”, Gedenkschift W. Brandenstein 1968; “Priester und Prophet”, Studia Missionalia 1973; “Vorzarathustrische Religionen in Iran”, Acta Iran. 3, 1974, 111-121; “Iranistik und Völkerkunde”, Nyberg Festschrift, Acta Iran. 4:1, 1975, 157-177; “Der zu hoch angesetzte Schamanismusbegriff”, OLZ 70, 1975, 229-240.
Sources: Bio-bibliographie, Acta Ir. 20, 1979, 100f.; *bibliography by M. Miltner, Anthropos 80, 1985, 677-689; briefly in German Wikipedia.
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