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, elder 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: Theol. diss. 1915 ms., phil. diss. “Kammgebiet der Koralpe”, Mitt. d. Naturwiss. vereins für Steiermark 1927, 119-135 (petrographisch-geologische Untersuchung).
– Early works on ancient Germanic religion, 1934ff.
– “Altpersiens religiöse Leistung und Tragik”, Missionswiss. und Religionswiss. 1953, 35-56; “Die gnostische Erlösungsidee und Zarathustra”, Festschrift J. F. Schütz 1954, 69-89; “Anahita”, Religionswiss. Wörterbuch 1956; “Neue Deutung Zarathustras”, Anthropos 58, 1963, 561-564; “Erlösendes Wissen”, The Origins of Gnosticism / Le origini dello gnosticismo. 1970, 265-280.
– “Der Schamanismus bei den Indoeuropäern”, Gedenkschift W. Brandenstein 1968, 289-302; “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; other articles.
Sources: Bio-bibliographie, Acta Ir. 20, 1979, 100f.; *M. Mitlacher, Anthropos 80, 1985, 637ff. and bibliography in 677-689; briefly in German Wikipedia.
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