# Antti Aarne

> Finnish folklorist (1867-1925)

**Wikidata**: [Q333881](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q333881)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antti_Aarne)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/antti-aarne

## Summary
Antti Aarne was a Finnish folklorist and university teacher who lived from 1867 to 1925. He is best known for developing the Aarne–Thompson–Uther classification system, a standardized catalogue of folktale types used in folklore studies. His academic career was affiliated with major institutions in both the Russian Empire and Finland.

## Biography
- Born: 1867
- Nationality: Finnish
- Known for: Development of the Aarne–Thompson–Uther classification system
- Employer(s): Imperial St. Petersburg University, University of Helsinki
- Field(s): Folklore studies

## Contributions
Antti Aarne is responsible for the creation of the Aarne–Thompson–Uther classification system. This work serves as a catalogue of folktale types and functions as a fundamental tool in the field of folklore studies. The system provides a structural framework for indexing and categorizing folk narratives.

## FAQs
**Who was Antti Aarne?**
Antti Aarne was a Finnish folklorist and university teacher active from 1867 to 1925. He is also known by his full alias, Antti Amatus Aarne.

**What is the Aarne–Thompson–Uther classification system?**
It is a catalogue of folktale types used in folklore studies to categorize narratives. The system was developed based on Antti Aarne's foundational work.

**Where did Antti Aarne work?**
Aarne was affiliated with Imperial St. Petersburg University, one of the twelve Imperial Universities of the Russian Empire, and the University of Helsinki in Finland.

## Why They Matter
Antti Aarne matters because his work established a universal standard for classifying folktales, enabling researchers to organize and compare narrative types across different cultures. The Aarne–Thompson–Uther classification system remains a critical methodology in folklore studies. Without this system, the systematic analysis and cross-cultural comparison of folk narratives would lack a unified framework.

## Notable For
- Development of the Aarne–Thompson–Uther classification system.
- Affiliation with Imperial St. Petersburg University during the era of the Russian Empire.
- Academic role at the University of Helsinki.
- Professional identity as a folklorist and university teacher.

## Body

### Identity and Nationality
Antti Aarne, also referred to by the alias Antti Amatus Aarne, was a human member of the species Homo sapiens. He lived from 1867 to 1925. His nationality was Finnish, placing him within the context of Northern Europe. His life and career spanned a period of significant political change in the region, transitioning from the era of the Grand Duchy of Finland to the independent country of Finland, which was established on December 6, 1917.

### Academic Affiliations
Aarne's professional life was defined by his roles as a folklorist and university teacher. He was affiliated with two prominent educational institutions. First, he was associated with Imperial St. Petersburg University. This university was one of the twelve Imperial Universities of the Russian Empire, which existed from 1721 to 1917. Imperial St. Petersburg University was established on February 8, 1819, and was renamed Petrograd University in 1914. Second, Aarne was connected to the University of Helsinki. This public university is headquartered in Helsinki and was established on March 26, 1640.

### The Classification System
The most significant outcome of Aarne's research was the Aarne–Thompson–Uther classification system. This system is a catalogue of folktale types designed for use in folklore studies. It serves as a critical tool for scholars to identify, categorize, and analyze folk narratives based on their specific structural elements and plot types.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. BiographySampo
3. The National Biography of Finland
4. Integrated Authority File
5. Biografiskt lexikon för Finland
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. Antti Aarne. Biografiskt lexikon för Finland
10. [Source](https://375humanistia.helsinki.fi/antti-aarne/sepan-pojasta-professoriksi)
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. LIBRIS. 2018