Sebastian Fischer

Dr. Sebastian Fischer is a Research Fellow and Project Director at the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Faculty of History and Cultural Studies, Freie Universität Berlin. His work focuses on the philological analysis of ancient texts, particularly the Hurrian Emar texts from the Late Bronze Age.

His research interests include Hurrian language studies, comparative analysis of omen literature (hepatoscopic and ornithoscopic), and the transmission of knowledge in ancient scribal traditions. He examines how these texts reflect broader cultural and epistemic dimensions in the Ancient Near East, with emphasis on multilingual contexts and scribal practices.

Leading the DFG-funded project "The Hurrian Emar Texts," Fischer studies the linguistic, paleographic, and cultural aspects of these texts, comparing them to Hittite and Akkadian traditions. His work contributes to understanding knowledge transfer and the role of the Hurrian language in multilingual societies.

He is affiliated with the DFG Center for Advanced Studies 2615 "Rethinking Oriental Despotism" and collaborates with international archaeological projects like the excavations at Oymaağaç Höyük-Nerik, Turkey. His office is located at Arnimallee 10, Room 204.