CLOSS, Alois. Neumarkt in Steiermark 27.10.1893 — Graz 10.1.1984. Austrian Iranian Scholar. Librarian in Graz. Son of Alois Closs, a court official, and Rosa Halm, elder brother of the Germanist August Closs (1898–1990). Educated in Graz, 1911-15 studies of theology at Graz (Dr.theol.), ordained priest 1916. In 1916-21 minister in three places in Steiermark, 1921-41 Religionsprofessor at Bundesgymnasium in Graz. In 1921-27 also studies of geology 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 (W. Schmidt, then Koppers and Heine-Geldern), physical anthropology, German philology and Protestant theology. In 1936 habilitation for Religionsgeschichte at Faculty of Theology, Graz. He never joined NSDAP, although member of an antisemitic church organisation. In 1945 moved (Umhabilitation) to Philosophical 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. De virtute religionis. Graz 1915 (manuscript); phil. diss. “Kammgebiet der Koralpe”, Mitt. d. Naturwiss. vereins für Steiermark 1927, 119-135 (petrographisch-geologische Untersuchung).
– Early works on ancient Germanic religion, 1934ff., i.al. hab.diss. 1936.
– “Altpersiens religiöse Leistung und Tragik”, Missionswiss. und Religionswiss. 1953, 35-56; “Die gnostische Erlösungsidee und Zarathustra”, Festschrift J. F. Schütz 1954, 69-89; “Historische Ethnologie und Germanistik. Das Gestaltproblem in der Völkerkunde”, Anthropos 51, 1956, 833-891; “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; “Zarathustra unter den Propheten”, Fs. J. Henninger 1976, 77-110; “Iranisches im Islam”, Fs. G. Molin 1983, 53-71; further articles and many reviews in Anthropos.
– “Der Schamanismus bei den Indoeuropäern”, Gedenkschrift 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.; J Henninger, Anthropos 73, 1978, 902f.; F. Lochner von Hüttenbach, Anthropos 79, 1984, 637f. with photo; M. Mitlacher, “Veröffentlichungen von Alois Closs († 10. Jänner 1984)”, Anthropos 80, 1985, 677-689; J. Stagl, Z. für Ethnol. 109, 1984, 177-179; German Wikipedia.
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