Wilhelm Dörpfeld

Wilhelm Dörpfeld ( born December 26, 1853 in Barmen ( local situation Bredde, now part of Wuppertal), † April 25, 1940 in Nidri on Lefkada ) was a German architect and archaeologist. He is considered the founder of modern excavation system and is one of the most famous archaeological architectural historian at all.

Life

Wilhelm Dörpfeld was the son of Friedrich Wilhelm Dörpfeld educators. He attended the grammar school in Elberfeld, which laid today named after him, " Wilhelm -Gymnasium Dörpfeld ", and there in 1872 from a high school. He then studied architecture at the Berlin Academy of Architecture, where his circle of friends to the architect Friedrich Graeber and Karl Siebold included. About a job in his teacher ( and future father-in ) Friedrich Adler office he found the entrance to the archaeological building research.

In 1877 he was an assistant to the excavation architect Richard Bohn after the Olympics had started its excavation Ernst Curtius and Friedrich Adler in 1874. 1878, at the age of only 25 years, Dörpfeld was given the technical excavation line. After completion of the work in Olympia, he was won in 1882 by Heinrich Schliemann for the excavation of Troy, which he led to the end after his death. Only Dörpfeld managed a first clear interpretation of the numerous layers of habitation.

Other important excavations and research: 1884-1885 by Schliemann at Tiryns; 1900 to 1913 with Alexander Conze middle and lower city of Pergamum; 1931 Investigations at the Agora of Athens.

Dörpfeld was 1886-1912 Second Secretary ( Director) of the German Archaeological Institute, Athens Department and is considered the founder of scientific excavation being in archeology. The historical profit of excavations was multiplied by newly developed by him excavation methods. These include the precise documentation of the findings by Stein plans fall layers, the observation of the archaeological layers ( stratigraphy ) and the graphic recording of important individual stones, and precise justification of proposed reconstructions. For his outstanding achievements in the field of archeology Dörpfeld received seven honorary doctorates and in 1892 the title of professor.

On April 8, 1923, the University of Jena, he was named honorary professor. Also, the Baedeker Publisher committed Dörpfeld due to his profound knowledge as co -author in drafting the description Olympias in his belt Greece (from 1882). He was a member of today's country team in the CC Rhenaniastraße Jena Jena et Marburg in Jena.

His later works on the early history of the sanctuary of Olympia and the origin of Mycenaean culture were, however, unlucky, also his efforts from 1900, the Homeric Ithaca prove to Lefkas.

Wilhelm Dörpfeld founded in 1896, the German School of Athens. 1936 Wilhelm- Dörpfeld Gymnasium was named in Wuppertal- Elberfeld to him.

Awards and honors

Writings

• For Winckelmann festivals of the Archaeological Society of Berlin in 1881, together with Friedrich Graeber, Richard Borrmann and Karl Siebold: About the use of terra-cotta cornices and roof on Greek monuments, G. Reimer Verlag, Berlin; Digitalisat University of Heidelberg
• The Greek Theatre. In 1896.
• Troy and Ilion. In 1902.
• Olympia in Roman times., 1914. ( Digitized University of Heidelberg)
• Alt- Olympia. 2 volumes, 1935.
• Alt-Athen and his Agora. 2 volumes, 1937-1939.
• Erechtheion. Drawings and machining of Hans Schleif. Mediator, Berlin 1942 ( digitized University of Heidelberg).

• Peter Goessler, in: Archaeological Gazette 1950/1951, pp. 381ff.