Oliver Gurney

Oliver Robert Gurney ( born January 28, 1911 in Norfolk, † January 11, 2001 in Oxford) was a British Hittitologist.

Gurney attended Eton College, and at New College (Oxford), a study of classical studies, which he completed in 1933. In the winter semester 1935/36, Gurney was in Berlin to expand with Hans Ehelolf, for its part, curator in Vorderasiatischem museum, its hethitologischen knowledge. After his return to England Gurney was a hethitologischen work " Hittite Prayer of Mursili II " doctorate. After the end of World War II his Shillito Readership was offered in Assyriology at Oxford, which he accepted, and then held for 33 years. 1965 Gurney was awarded by the University for his achievements and merits of the title of professor. To his scientific work, among others belonged the text publication of Assyrian cuneiform tablets that were excavated by Seton Lloyd in Sultantepe in the years 1951/52, and now are in possession of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara. Among many other publications, the book "The Hittites " is one of the most important and widely used fonts Gurney, which offered many interested lay people, but also generations of students, an introduction to the Hittites.

Own Papers (selection)

• The Hittites. Penguin, London et al 1952 German: The Hittites. 2nd revised edition. VEB Verlag art, Dresden 1980.