The German publishing house Harrassowitz Verlag, one of the most distinguished publishing houses in Europe and a global leader in the publication of academic journals and specialized volumes, has confirmed its participation in the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies, organized by the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization at the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest on August 3 - 7, 2026.
Founded in Frankfurt in 1872, not only as a publishing house but also as a bookstore and distribution center for major international scholarly works, Harrassowitz Verlag has, from its very beginnings, specialized in two core areas of academic research that remain its fundamental pillars: bibliographical and book studies on the one hand, and Oriental studies on the other. Together with groups of linguists and scholars from the Association of German Orientalists, the German Society for the Exploration of Palestine, and the German Oriental Society (which remain strategic partners of the publishing house to this day), Harrassowitz has established itself—through both the physical quality of its publications and the relevance of the subjects addressed—as one of the most prestigious scholarly publishers in the world. As early as 25 years after its founding, by 1897, more than 50 research libraries at leading American and European universities had chosen the Frankfurt-based publisher as the sole supplier of all scholarly works originating from the German-speaking academic sphere.
Unfortunately, after years of success and well-earned recognition, the end of the Second World War brought the bombing of Harrassowitz's Frankfurt headquarters by Allied forces, resulting in the complete destruction not only of the company's offices but also of its entire catalog and stock. Forced to rebuild entirely (in a situation comparable to that of Germany as a whole), the publishing house relocated to Wiesbaden, from where it resumed its activity and restored its academic reputation. In the 1970s, Harrassowitz expanded its library services by providing access to all research articles, scholarly volumes, and academic journals across all fields originating from Europe, and in the 1990s it extended its focus to include those from the American continent as well. At the same time, the publisher early on incorporated emerging digital publishing technologies, launching its own platforms OttoSerials (1994), OttoEditions (2000), and Fokus (2020).
With approximately 4,000 volumes, around 150 book series, more than 30 journals and yearbooks, and roughly 250 new publications annually, Harrassowitz Verlag is unquestionably among the most important scholarly publishers worldwide. Its participation in the proceedings of the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies will allow participants to become familiar with key works published under its imprint at a dedicated exhibition stand, organized throughout the entire duration of the congress in Bucharest.
