Oscar Broneer
Encyclopedia
Oscar Theodore Broneer was a Swedish American
archaeologist prominent for his work on Ancient Greece
.
. He studied at Augustana College
and then attended the University of California, Berkeley
. It took Broneer only two years at Berkeley to earn both an M.A. and Ph.D. Afterwards, he taught at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
and worked for years at the Corinth Excavations
, where he excavated, studied, and published the South Stoa and the odeum. He returned to an impoverished Greece immediately after World War II as a member of the Red Cross. While working at Corinth he also developed the first systematic typology of ancient terracotta lamps. In 1952, Broneer famously discovered the temple of Poseidon at Isthmia
on the very first day of the excavation. Broneer became the field director at Isthmia in 1952 and remained in charge until 1967. He published several books in his career. In 1962, the Greek government honored him with the honorary command of the Royal Hellenic Order of the Phoenix. He received the Gold Medal
of the Archaeological Institute of America
in 1969. His full bibliography can be found in Hesperia
43 (1974). He was buried in Hagia Anna cemetery, Ancient Corinth
, Greece beside his first wife, Verna Anderson, who died in 1948.
Swedish American
Swedish Americans are Americans of Swedish descent, especially the descendants of about 1.2 million immigrants from Sweden during 1885-1915. Most were Lutherans who affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ; some were Methodists...
archaeologist prominent for his work on Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
.
Biography
Broneer left Sweden in 1913 for the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He studied at Augustana College
Augustana College (Illinois)
Augustana College is a private liberal arts college located in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The college enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Covering of hilly, wooded land, Augustana is adjacent to the Mississippi River...
and then attended the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. It took Broneer only two years at Berkeley to earn both an M.A. and Ph.D. Afterwards, he taught at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
American School of Classical Studies at Athens
The American School of Classical Studies at Athens is one of 17 foreign archaeological institutes in Athens, Greece.-General information:...
and worked for years at the Corinth Excavations
Corinth Excavations
The Corinth Excavations by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens began in 1896 and have continued with little interruption until today. Restricted by the modern village of Ancient Corinth, which directly overlies the ancient city, the main focus of School investigations has been on the...
, where he excavated, studied, and published the South Stoa and the odeum. He returned to an impoverished Greece immediately after World War II as a member of the Red Cross. While working at Corinth he also developed the first systematic typology of ancient terracotta lamps. In 1952, Broneer famously discovered the temple of Poseidon at Isthmia
Temple of Isthmia
The Temple of Isthmia is an ancient Greek temple on the Isthmus of Corinth dedicated to the god Poseidon and built in the Archaic Period. It is about east of ancient Corinth. It appears to have been constructed in the seventh century BC though was later destroyed in 470 BC and rebuilt as the...
on the very first day of the excavation. Broneer became the field director at Isthmia in 1952 and remained in charge until 1967. He published several books in his career. In 1962, the Greek government honored him with the honorary command of the Royal Hellenic Order of the Phoenix. He received the Gold Medal
Gold Medal of the Archaeological Institute of America
The Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Archaeological Achievement is awarded by the Archaeological Institute of America in "recognition of a scholar who has made distinguished contributions to archaeology through his or her fieldwork, publications, and/or teaching."It is the Institute's highest award...
of the Archaeological Institute of America
Archaeological Institute of America
The Archaeological Institute of America is a North American nonprofit organization devoted to the promotion of public interest in archaeology, and the preservation of archaeological sites. It has offices on the campus of Boston University and in New York City.The institute was founded in 1879,...
in 1969. His full bibliography can be found in Hesperia
Hesperia (journal)
Hesperia is a peer-reviewed journal published quarterly by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. It was founded in 1932 for the publication of the work of the school. This is still the main aim of the journal today...
43 (1974). He was buried in Hagia Anna cemetery, Ancient Corinth
Ancient Corinth
Corinth, or Korinth was a city-state on the Isthmus of Corinth, the narrow stretch of land that joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece, roughly halfway between Athens and Sparta. The modern town of Corinth is located approximately northeast of the ancient ruins...
, Greece beside his first wife, Verna Anderson, who died in 1948.