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Paavo Hohti

Paavo Hohti
Born October 19, 1944, Helsinki

PhD 1976 (Greek and Roman literature), University of Helsinki
Docent 1977–, University of Tampere and University of Helsinki

Managing Director 2004–13, Council of Finnish Foundations
Director 1980–89, Secretary General 1990–2004, Finnish Cultural Foundation
Lecturer in Latin 1971–80, University of Tampere

Board member 2011, Bonier Books Finland
Board of administration member 1990–99, Board of directors 1999–2008
WSOY Board of administration member 1991–99

Research themes and publications:
Studies of the historical writing and rhetoric of ancient Greece and Byzantium, and papyrology.

Acta Byzantina Fennica, editorial work 1985–90

Finnish translation of Aristotle’s Poetics and Rhetoric (1997)

Publications on the activities and history of private foundations

Awards and honours:
Honorary title of professor 2003

First Class Knight of the White Rose of Finland, Commander of the Order of the Holy Lamb, Commander, first class, of the Greek Order of Honour

Photo: Ida Pimenoff
Written by Olli Siitonen
Translated by Matthew Billington

Conducting and Supporting Research

Paavo Hohti believes that close relations between professors and students played an increasing role as his studies progressed. In a relatively small group, everybody knew one another and professors were personally involved. Of his Greek Literature teachers, Hohti mentions Henrik Zilliacus and Holger Thesleff.

Professor Zilliacus used to invite older students to go sailing at this summer house in Nauvo, and Hohti looks back on his friendship with the professor fondly. The sailboat, however, was later replaced by a motorised fishing boat. When these shared excursions came to an end, Zilliacus gave his boat Victoria to Hohti as a gift. The boat was eventually given back to the family of Zilliacus when Hohti moved to Mäntyharju.

Professor Henrik Zilliacus at the helm of the Nordic folkboat Mellitta in 1969. Photo from the family album.

Caption: Professor Henrik Zilliacus at the helm of the Nordic folkboat Mellitta in 1969. Photo from the family album.

Villa Lante, the Finnish Institute in Rome, became a central location in the life of Dr Hohti from the late 1960s onwards. In the springs of 1967 and 1968, he was part of a research team led by Patrick Bruun studying the Etruscans. One of his close colleagues, who was also working at the Institute, was Jorma Kaimio. Dr Hohti has visited Rome almost every year since the late 1960s. Being a member and later the chairman of the Foundation Institutum Romanum Finlandiae has also taken him to Italy.

The papyrological research team founded by Henrik Zilliacus was also significant. Zilliacus formed a tight-knit group and led it with determination and deep understanding, which was most likely based on his experience as the director of Villa Lante. Teamwork was somewhat unusual in the humanities at the time, and, for example, work could be carried out together in Vienna at the papyri collection of Archduke Rainer. Members of the team included Jorma and Maarit Kaimio and Jaakko Frösén, who have continued working on papyri to this day.

The team of the papyrological research team led by Henrik Zilliacus meeting in the office of Holger Thesleff on Vuorikatu in 1978. Pictured are Jorma Kaimio, Henrik Zilliacus, Maarit Kaimio, Jaakko Frösén and Paavo Hohti. Photo from the magazine Suomen Kuvalehti.

Caption: The team of the papyrological research team led by Henrik Zilliacus meeting in the office of Holger Thesleff on Vuorikatu in 1978. Pictured are Jorma Kaimio, Henrik Zilliacus, Maarit Kaimio, Jaakko Frösén and Paavo Hohti. Photo from the magazine Suomen Kuvalehti.

Academic pursuits began to receive less attention when Dr Hohti became the director of the Finnish Cultural Foundation in 1980, having been a lecturer in Latin at the University of Tampere for seven years. Dr Hohti worked at the foundation for 24 years, the last 14 of them as the Secretary General. Working to support art and culture was a pleasant and rewarding experience.

“The Cultural Foundation was a wonderful place to work. It was particularly enjoyable when you could play a part in giving scientists and artists the opportunity to make new discoveries. It was also great to be able to work with marvellous people and with experts from various fields. The greatness of the donators also deserves praise.”

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