Paolo Orsi
Encyclopedia
Paolo Orsi was an Italian archaeologist and classicist.
, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now in the province of Trento
in Italy
. After studying at a gymnasium
in Rovereto, Orsi moved to Vienna
to study ancient history and archaeology. Continuing his studies at the University of Padua
and graduating in Rome, he next studied at Rome's Reale scuola italiana di Archeologia (Italian School of Archaeology), Bologna
's school of classical art, and Rome's school of palaeontology.
Refusing offers of several university posts, Orsi decided to concentrate on field research and publications. During his studies, he discovered the prehistoric zone of Colombo
at Mori in Trentino. After a brief period in a teaching post at Alatri
, he took a position at the general directorate of antiquities and fine arts, and then the Biblioteca nazionale centrale di Firenze (National Central Library of Florence).
In 1890 Orsi won a competition to become inspector of excavations and museums. He was invited to Syracuse, where he devoted himself to studying the origins of the Sicani
and Sicels
, and of the cities of Thapsos and Megara Hyblaea
. In his work on the monti Iblei and the valley leading to the sea, he discovered temples, necropolis
es, walls, palaces, coins and other remains of the ancient city of Casmene
. He wrote an interpretation of the architecture of the Basilica di San Foca at Priolo
. As commissioner of the Museo Nazionale di Napoli for a short time (1900 - 1901), Orsi still left an indelible mark. He lay the foundations for the museum's global re-organization (brought to fruition under its next director Ettore Pais
) and identification of ten major collections of materials.
In 1907 Orsi transferred to Reggio Calabria
, where he became director of the Sovraintendenza Calabra per gli Scavi. He contributed to the founding of the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia
. He worked at Reggio
, Locri
and Rossano Calabro, where he continued his studies of Magna Grecia. In city excavations he found an Ionic
temple, ancient walls, and the sites of Medma
and Krimisa
. In 1924 he was appointed a senator
of the Kingdom of Italy and returned to Sicily
. Although he refused a university chair, Orsi continued to work with the Syracuse museum (which now bears his name) in his retirement.
He wrote more than 300 works, for which he won the Gran Premio di Archeologia dell'Accademia dei Lincei. His preferred areas were Syracuse, Calabria, Rovereto and South Tyrol
. He was one of the founders of the Società Italiana di Archeologia in 1909. Students in Vienna long studied his works on Trentino alongside those of Federico Halbherr
. The annual Rassegna del cinema archeologico (held at the Museo Civico di Rovereto and for a couple of years at Reggio Calabria
) was dedicated to Orsi and Halbherr.
Life
Orsi was born in RoveretoRovereto
Rovereto is a city and comune in Trentino in northern Italy, located in the Vallagarina valley of the Adige River.-History:Rovereto was an ancient fortress town standing at the frontier between the bishopric of Trento - an independent state until 1797 - and the republic of Venice, and later...
, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now in the province of Trento
Trento
Trento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. After studying at a gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Rovereto, Orsi moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
to study ancient history and archaeology. Continuing his studies at the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
and graduating in Rome, he next studied at Rome's Reale scuola italiana di Archeologia (Italian School of Archaeology), Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
's school of classical art, and Rome's school of palaeontology.
Refusing offers of several university posts, Orsi decided to concentrate on field research and publications. During his studies, he discovered the prehistoric zone of Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
at Mori in Trentino. After a brief period in a teaching post at Alatri
Alatri
Alatri is a town and comune of province of Frosinone in the Italian region of the Lazio, with c. 30,000 inhabitants. A part of the traditional region of Ciociaria, it is famous for its megalithic acropolis.-History:...
, he took a position at the general directorate of antiquities and fine arts, and then the Biblioteca nazionale centrale di Firenze (National Central Library of Florence).
In 1890 Orsi won a competition to become inspector of excavations and museums. He was invited to Syracuse, where he devoted himself to studying the origins of the Sicani
Sicani
The Sicani or Sicanians were one of three ancient peoples of Sicily present at the time of Phoenician and Greek colonization.-History:The Sicani are thought to be the oldest inhabitants of Sicily with a recorded name...
and Sicels
Sicels
The Sicels were an Italic people who inhabited ancient Sicily. The Sicels gave Sicily the name it has held since antiquity, but they rapidly fused into the culture of Magna Graecia.-History:...
, and of the cities of Thapsos and Megara Hyblaea
Megara Hyblaea
Megara Hyblaea – perhaps identical with Hybla Major – is the name of an ancient Greek colony in Sicily, situated near Augusta on the east coast, north-northwest of Syracuse, Italy, on the deep bay formed by the Xiphonian promontory...
. In his work on the monti Iblei and the valley leading to the sea, he discovered temples, necropolis
Necropolis
A necropolis is a large cemetery or burial ground, usually including structural tombs. The word comes from the Greek νεκρόπολις - nekropolis, literally meaning "city of the dead"...
es, walls, palaces, coins and other remains of the ancient city of Casmene
Casmene
Casmene was an ancient Greek colony located on the Hyblaean Mountains, founded in 644 BC by the Syracusans at a strategic position for the control of central Sicily...
. He wrote an interpretation of the architecture of the Basilica di San Foca at Priolo
Priolo Gargallo
Priolo Gargallo is a comune in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily . It's located about 190 km southeast of Palermo and about 13 km northwest of Syracuse...
. As commissioner of the Museo Nazionale di Napoli for a short time (1900 - 1901), Orsi still left an indelible mark. He lay the foundations for the museum's global re-organization (brought to fruition under its next director Ettore Pais
Ettore Pais
Ettore Pais was an ancient historian, Latin epigrapher, and an Italian politician....
) and identification of ten major collections of materials.
In 1907 Orsi transferred to Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
, where he became director of the Sovraintendenza Calabra per gli Scavi. He contributed to the founding of the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia
Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia
The Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia , Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Reggio Calabria or Palazzo Piacentini is a museum in Reggio Calabria, southern Italy, housing an archaeological collection from sites in Magna Graecia.Initially formed with a nucleus of material ceded from the...
. He worked at Reggio
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
, Locri
Locri
Locri is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, southern Italy. The name derives from the ancient Greek town Locris.-History:...
and Rossano Calabro, where he continued his studies of Magna Grecia. In city excavations he found an Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
temple, ancient walls, and the sites of Medma
Medma
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and Krimisa
Krimisa
Krimisa, Crimisa or Crimissa was a small ancient city in Magna Graecia, probably originating in the 7th century BC....
. In 1924 he was appointed a senator
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
of the Kingdom of Italy and returned to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. Although he refused a university chair, Orsi continued to work with the Syracuse museum (which now bears his name) in his retirement.
He wrote more than 300 works, for which he won the Gran Premio di Archeologia dell'Accademia dei Lincei. His preferred areas were Syracuse, Calabria, Rovereto and South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
. He was one of the founders of the Società Italiana di Archeologia in 1909. Students in Vienna long studied his works on Trentino alongside those of Federico Halbherr
Federico Halbherr
Federico Halbherr was an Italian archaeologist and epigrapher, known for his excavations of Crete.-Life:...
. The annual Rassegna del cinema archeologico (held at the Museo Civico di Rovereto and for a couple of years at Reggio Calabria
Reggio Calabria
Reggio di Calabria , commonly known as Reggio Calabria or Reggio, is the biggest city and the most populated comune of Calabria, southern Italy, and is the capital of the Province of Reggio Calabria and seat of the Council of Calabrian government.Reggio is located on the "toe" of the Italian...
) was dedicated to Orsi and Halbherr.