Person

Johann Ludwig Burckhardt

1784–1817 · 19th century · Also known as Jean Louis Burckhardt

Johann Ludwig Burckhardt was a Swiss traveller and orientalist who explored the Near East in the guise of a Muslim scholar, Sheikh Ibrahim. In 1812 he noticed inscribed stones at Hama, later recognised as Hittite hieroglyphs, and became the first European in modern times to see Petra. He also visited Abu Simbel and Mecca before dying of dysentery in Cairo in 1817.

Johann Ludwig Burckhardt
Image: Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 state history

Hamath

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/johann-ludwig-burckhardt
MLA
“Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/johann-ludwig-burckhardt. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/johann-ludwig-burckhardt.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Johann Ludwig Burckhardt’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/johann-ludwig-burckhardt (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻