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Maarit Kaimio

Maarit Kaimio (née Vuorenjuuri)
Born April 19, 1941, Helsinki.

Master of Arts (Roman Literature), 1965, Licentiate of Philosophy, 1968, and Doctor of Philosophy, (Greek Literature) 1970, University of Helsinki.

Professor of Greek Language and Literature, 1976–2004, University of Helsinki
Vice-Dean, 1992–1994, 1995–1997, 2001–2003, University of Helsinki
Assistant, Classical Philology, 1965–1968, University of Turku
Assistant, Greek Literature, 1968–1973, University of Helsinki
Docent, Greek Literature, 1972–1975, University of Helsinki
Junior Researcher, State Committee for the Humanities, 1973–1975

Publications, research projects and other academic activities
Research interests: Ancient Greek dramatic literature and theatre, the Greek novel, Greek papyrus documents

Written by Maarit Kaimio and Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta (ed.)
Translated by John Calton

Translating the Bible and dispersing funds

One of my most interesting jobs outside the University was taking part in Bible translation work, initiated by the Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Church in 1973, as an expert on the Greek language. The new translation replaced the previous 1935 version in the year 1992. I worked as a member of the New Testament translation and inspection units in 1984 and between 1986 and 1989. We worked ecumenically with the Orthodox and Catholic churches, and it was also important to constantly interact with representatives of the Finnish language, philologists and theologians, not to mention the wide-ranging feedback we received from laymen.

The work continued when the synod in 1999 decided to form a translation committee to translate the Apocryphal texts of the Old Testament as well. These texts have been preserved for example in the Greek Septuaginta translations. I was a member of this committee from 2000 to 2007, when the synod approved the new translation. This job was even more rewarding than translating the New Testament, as we had to constantly discuss what emphasis to put on Greek, Hebrew and Finnish when editing the text.

I have worked outside of my own field's expert tasks in many Finnish organisations that support the sciences and arts: I was a member of the Academy of Finland's Research Council for Humanities from 1990 to 1994, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Finnish Cultural Foundation from 1977 to 1986 and a member of the Foundation's Supervisory Board from 1986 to 1995, as well as a board member of the Emil Aaltonen Foundation from 1994 to 2009.

I have been an invited member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters since 1982, and I have been awarded the First Class Knight of the White Rose of Finland and the Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

The Apocryphal Committee's meeting at the Rantasalmi parsonage. Photo: Maarit Kaimio's home archive.​
The Apocryphal Committee's meeting at the Rantasalmi parsonage. Photo: Maarit Kaimio's home archive.​

 

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Maarit Kaimio

Maarit Kaimio (née Vuorenjuuri)
Born April 19, 1941, Helsinki.

Master of Arts (Roman Literature), 1965, Licentiate of Philosophy, 1968, and Doctor of Philosophy, (Greek Literature) 1970, University of Helsinki.

Professor of Greek Language and Literature, 1976–2004, University of Helsinki
Vice-Dean, 1992–1994, 1995–1997, 2001–2003, University of Helsinki
Assistant, Classical Philology, 1965–1968, University of Turku
Assistant, Greek Literature, 1968–1973, University of Helsinki
Docent, Greek Literature, 1972–1975, University of Helsinki
Junior Researcher, State Committee for the Humanities, 1973–1975

Publications, research projects and other academic activities
Research interests: Ancient Greek dramatic literature and theatre, the Greek novel, Greek papyrus documents

Written by Maarit Kaimio and Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta (ed.)
Translated by John Calton

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