Ludwig Curtius
Encyclopedia
Ludwig Curtius was a German archaeologist born in Augsburg
. He is remembered for his investigations involving the development of ancient Greek and Roman art.
He studied classical archaeology
in Munich
under Adolf Furtwängler
(1853–1907), of whom in 1899 he became tutor to Furtwängler's son, future famed conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler
(1886–1954). From 1904 to 1907 Curtius participated in excavations at Aegina
and Hattusa
, afterwards becoming an associate professor at the University of Erlangen, where in 1913 he became professor ordinarius.
During World War I
he attained the rank of lieutenant and served as a news officer in the Balkans
. After the war he taught classes at the University of Freiburg
(from 1918) and later at the University of Heidelberg (from 1920). In 1928 he was appointed director at the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (German Archaeological Institute
, DAI) in Rome
, a position he kept until his dismissal by the Nazis in 1938. After his release from the DAI, he remained in Rome until his death in 1954.
Curtius was the author of a number of influential works on classical archaeology; his best known publications being: Antike Kunst (Ancient Art), Das antike Rom (Ancient Rome) and Die Wandmalerei Pompejis (The Wall Paintings of Pompeii
).
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
. He is remembered for his investigations involving the development of ancient Greek and Roman art.
He studied classical archaeology
Classical archaeology
Classical archaeology is the archaeological investigation of the great Mediterranean civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Nineteenth century archaeologists such as Heinrich Schliemann were drawn to study the societies they had read about in Latin and Greek texts...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
under Adolf Furtwängler
Adolf Furtwängler
Adolf Furtwängler was a famous German archaeologist, teacher, art historian and museum director. He was the father of the conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler and grandfather of the German archaeologist Andreas Furtwängler....
(1853–1907), of whom in 1899 he became tutor to Furtwängler's son, future famed conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler
Wilhelm Furtwängler
Wilhelm Furtwängler was a German conductor and composer. He is widely considered to have been one of the greatest symphonic and operatic conductors of the 20th century. By the 1930s he had built a reputation as one of the leading conductors in Europe, and he was the leading conductor who remained...
(1886–1954). From 1904 to 1907 Curtius participated in excavations at Aegina
Aegina
Aegina is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece in the Saronic Gulf, from Athens. Tradition derives the name from Aegina, the mother of Aeacus, who was born in and ruled the island. During ancient times, Aegina was a rival to Athens, the great sea power of the era.-Municipality:The municipality...
and Hattusa
Hattusa
Hattusa was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. It was located near modern Boğazkale, Turkey, within the great loop of the Kızıl River ....
, afterwards becoming an associate professor at the University of Erlangen, where in 1913 he became professor ordinarius.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he attained the rank of lieutenant and served as a news officer in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. After the war he taught classes at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
(from 1918) and later at the University of Heidelberg (from 1920). In 1928 he was appointed director at the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (German Archaeological Institute
German Archaeological Institute
The German Archaeological Institute is an institution of research within the field of archaeology , and a "scientific corporation", with parentage of the federal Foreign Office of Germany-Origin:...
, DAI) in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, a position he kept until his dismissal by the Nazis in 1938. After his release from the DAI, he remained in Rome until his death in 1954.
Curtius was the author of a number of influential works on classical archaeology; his best known publications being: Antike Kunst (Ancient Art), Das antike Rom (Ancient Rome) and Die Wandmalerei Pompejis (The Wall Paintings of Pompeii
Pompeii
The city of Pompeii is a partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples in the Italian region of Campania, in the territory of the comune of Pompei. Along with Herculaneum, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning...
).