Johannes Pedersens ophold i Cairo 1920-1921

Modtageren af dette Festskrift var som professor i semitisk filologi automatisk efor for det legat, der bærer Johannes Pedersens navn. Jeg ved, at Eksell som mange andre nærer stor respekt for sin forgænger i embedet, og jeg har derfor benyttet lejligheden til at genlæse en række breve, Pedersen skrev til kolleger i Danmark, medens han var på studieophold i Cairo i 1920-21. Jeg har også genlæst hans ansøgninger til Carlsbergfondet og set nærmere på de hensigter, han i ansøgningerne gav for sin studierejse. Jeg har valgt i mit bidrag at gøre udstrakt brug af citater fra ansøgningerne og brevene for at lade Pedersens egne ord komme til live i Festskriftet til en af hans efterfølgere i embedet. ; The recipient of this Festschrift was in her capacity as the Professor of Semitic Philology also the Warden of "Johannes Pedersen Grant." I know that Kerstin Eksell respects her predecessor and therefore I have used the opportunity to re-read a number of letters which Johannes Pedersen wrote to his colleagues in Denmark when he was studying in Cairo 1920-21. I have also re-read his applications to Carlsberg Foundation and looked into the goals that he intended to reach during his stay in Cairo. I have chosen to give extensive quotations from his applications and letters in order to let Johannes Pedersen himself speak in the Festschrift addressed to one of his successors.