Uno Harva

Born on August 30, 1882, in Ypäjä, Finland, he was known earlier as Uno Holmberg and adopted the name Uno Harva in 1927. He became an important figure in Finnish religious studies and ethnology, working alongside other early scholars who established the field in Finland.

He is best remembered for his research on Finno-Ugric and Altaic religions, with a special interest in mythology, shamanistic traditions, and the religious world of North Eurasian peoples. His books and studies helped introduce many readers to the comparative study of religion through careful use of folklore and ethnographic material.

Harva died on August 13, 1949, in Turku. Even today, he is regarded as one of the key early scholars in the study of northern Eurasian religions and an influential voice in the history of comparative religion.