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Philosophy & Social Sciences

Theodor Benfey

Who

Theodor Benfey · Philosophy & Social Sciences

What

German Sanskrit scholar who advanced the migration theory of folktales.

When

1809, Nörten, near Göttingen, Germany — 1881, Göttingen, Germany

Where

Germany

Biography

Theodor Benfey is recognized among Jewish contributors to Philosophy & Social Sciences — German Sanskrit scholar who advanced the migration theory of folktales.

How & why

Benfey was a German philologist and Sanskrit scholar whose edition and study of the Pañcatantra advanced the 'migration theory' of folktales—the idea that many European tales spread westward from Indian sources. He was born into a Jewish family and converted to Protestantism in 1848, in part to secure a university professorship then closed to Jews.

Sources & external links

Verify and go deeper with these external references.

Source: Jinfo.org — Jews in Linguistics

Contributions & Sources

German Sanskrit scholar who advanced the migration theory of folktales.

1809

Source: Jinfo.org — Jews in Linguistics