Jens Lieblein

Who was Jens Lieblein?

Jens Daniel Carolus Lieblein was a Norwegian Egyptologist and magazine editor. He was a professor at the University of Oslo from 1876, the first professor of Egyptology in Norway.

Lieblein was born in Christiania as a son of shoemaker Johan Martin Lieblein and Anne Karine Hofgaard. Lieblein's father died in 1838, and Lieblein started working at a sawmill from the age of 11 years. In his leisure time, he studied history and languages, including German, French, Latin and Greek. After 14 years at the sawmill, he attended a school in Christiania. From 1855, he studied philology and history at the University, graduating in 1861. He began a study of ancient Indian culture and learned Sanskrit. He then focused on ancient Egyptian culture, studying in Berlin, Paris, Turin, London and Leiden.

He was present at the opening of the Suez canal in 1869, representing Norway along with playwright Henrik Ibsen. Leiblein was appointed professor of Egyptology at the Royal Frederick University in 1876, the first professor of Egyptology in Norway. He edited the magazine Norden from 1866 to 1868, and Nyt norsk Tidskrift from 1877 to 1878.

He died at Eidsvoll.