Eleven ancient oriental languages form the core of Estiphan Panoussi’s academic output, establishing him as a scholar of Iranian Assyrian descent with a specific focus on the marginal dialects of Aramaic. Born in Sanandaj in 1935, his career has spanned multiple continents and institutions, integrating the study of philology with medieval philosophy, Christian thought, and complex cross-cultural intersections.
Academic Foundation
Panoussi completed his Master of Arts in Philosophy at the Pontifical Urban University in 1958. He subsequently pursued advanced studies at the Catholic University of Louvain, where he obtained a Ph.D. in Oriental Philology and History. He secured a second Ph.D. in Philosophy from the same institution in 1967. His foundational training included research periods in Tübingen, where he focused on Semitic studies and Iranian philology.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Professional Appointments
His teaching career began in Germany with instructor roles at the University of Giessen and the University of Marburg between 1964 and 1966. Following this, he served as an assistant professor at the Free University of Berlin from 1967 to 1973. Throughout the following decades, he held professorships at the University of Tehran from 1972 to 1989, the University of Utah from 1978 to 1983, and the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt from 1989 to 1992. His formal academic tenure concluded at the University of Gothenburg, where he remains professor emeritus following his retirement in 2000. He also acted as a visiting scholar at Harvard University during two distinct periods between 1997 and 2002 at the invitation of Wolfhart Heinrichs.
Linguistic and Philosophical Research
Panoussi is a native speaker of the Senaya language, a Northeastern Neo-Aramaic dialect. Much of his research centers on the preservation of such languages, notably through the publication of the Neusyrische Chrestomathie, produced alongside Rudolf Macúch in 1974. His scholarly output also includes a Latin-Persian Dictionary and extensive comparative work on the influence of Persian and Indian philosophy upon Western traditions. He has contributed to the field of medieval philosophy through detailed examinations of Avicenna and Aristotle, alongside numerous publications in Persian, French, German, and English.
Fast facts
- Born: 1935, Sanandaj
- Citizenship: United States
- Ph.D. Philosophy: Catholic University of Louvain, 1967
- Languages known: 10 ancient oriental languages
- Primary employer: University of Gothenburg
- Noted work: Neusyrische Chrestomathie (1974)
Questions readers ask
What is Estiphan Panoussi's primary area of expertise?
He is a philosopher and orientalist specializing in Aramaic philology, medieval Persian and Christian philosophy, and the study of Neo-Aramaic dialects like Senaya.
Where does he currently teach?
After retiring from the University of Gothenburg, he has served as an adjunct instructor for philosophy and oriental philology at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Gothenburg
.jpg)