Itamar Singer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Itamar Singer
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Singer in 2010
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| Born | November 26, 1946 Dej, Transylvania, Romania
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| Died | September 19, 2012 |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Alma mater | Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Marburg |
| Known for | Research on Ancient Near East, Hittite culture, Pax Hethitica |
| Spouse(s) | Dr. Graciela Noemi Gestoso |
| Awards | EMET Prize (2010) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | History, Archaeology, Hittitology |
| Institutions | Tel Aviv University |
| Doctoral advisor | Heinrich Otten |
Itamar Singer (born November 26, 1946 – died September 19, 2012) was an Israeli writer and historian. He was born in Romania and was known for his studies of the Ancient Near East. He was a leading expert on the Hittites, an ancient people from a region called Anatolia. He was the first to deeply study the Hittite culture in Israel. He also helped explain the problems that led to the end of their empire.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Itamar Singer was born on November 26, 1946, in a town called Dej in Transylvania, Romania. His parents were Zoltán and Gertrude Singer. When he was five, his family, who spoke Hungarian, moved to Cluj.
In 1958, his family moved to Israel and settled in a new town called Holon. Later, Singer married Dr. Graciela Noemi Gestoso, an Egyptologist from Argentina.
Studying Ancient Civilizations
Education and Early Career
Itamar Singer studied archaeology and geography at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He earned his first degree in 1968. After that, he went to Tel Aviv University for his master's degree. At the same time, he served in the Israeli air force.
He continued his studies about the Hittites in Germany at the University of Marburg. There, he worked with Heinrich Otten and earned his doctorate in 1978. His important research was about a Hittite festival.
After his studies, he joined the Department of Archaeology and Near East Cultures at Tel Aviv University. He also taught in other places. In 1996, he became a full professor. He retired in 2008 because of health issues.
Key Research and Ideas
Singer was very interested in a time he called the Pax Hethitica. This was a period in the 13th century BC. He saw it as a "golden age" when powerful nations had good diplomatic relationships.
He was the first to suggest that internal problems and disagreements made the Hittite empire weak. This weakness made them vulnerable to the Bronze Age collapse. Groups like the Sea Peoples then delivered the final blow that ended their empire.
Itamar Singer wrote over a hundred articles for academic journals. He continued to write even after he retired. For several years, he was also part of the team that edited the scholarly journal Antiguo Oriente.
In 2010, Itamar Singer received the EMET Prize. This is a very important award for achievements in art, science, and culture.
Selected Books
- Singer, Itamar. The Hittite KI.LAM Festival, 1983, 1984.
- Singer, Itamar and Izre'el, Shlomo. The General's Letter from Ugarit, 1990.
- Singer, Itamar. Muwatalli's Prayer, 1996.
- Singer, Itamar. Hittite Prayers, 2002.
- Singer, Itamar. The Hittites and their Culture (in Hebrew), 2009.
- Singer, Itamar. The Calm before the Storm, 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Itamar Singer para niños
