The Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde bears the name of its founder, the English scholar and natural scientist Johannes Hoops. A second, completely revised edition of 35 volumes and two index-volumes was published between 1972 and 2008. The Reallexikon is designed as a handbook, and follows the tradition of comprehensive encyclopedias. Its objective is to give an all-encompassing and critical account of the state of the art in Old Germanic History. Its interdisciplinary approach includes findings from art history, legal history, ethnology and religious studies.