Phyllis Williams Lehmann
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Williams Lehmann, (Brooklyn
November 12, 1912 – Haydenville, Massachusetts, September 29, 2004) was an American classical archaeologist who specialised in the Samothrace temple complex
, where she discovered a third statue of "Winged Victory
" (1949) and recovered missing fingers of the hand of the famous Winged Victory of Samothrace
at the Louvre.
in 1938, as a doctoral student on the New York University
team led by Karl Lehmann. She was awarded her PhD in 1943 and married Lehmann the following year. She was assistant field director of the excavations at Samothrace 1948–1960 and acting director 1960–1965, and she remained closely involved with Samothrace for the rest of her career. She was a member of the faculty of Smith College
from 1946 to 1978 and was Dean there from 1965 to 1970.
Among her publications are The Pedimental Sculptures of the Hieron in Samothrace (1962) and Samothrace III: The Hieron, (1969), which was awarded the Hitchcock Award of the Society of Architectural Historians
in 1969.
In 1970 she retired to her home in Haydenville, Massachusetts, where she died in 2004.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
November 12, 1912 – Haydenville, Massachusetts, September 29, 2004) was an American classical archaeologist who specialised in the Samothrace temple complex
Samothrace temple complex
The Samothrace Temple Complex, known as the Sanctuary of the Great Gods , Greek Hieron ton Megalon Theon , is one of the principal Pan-Hellenic religious sanctuaries, located on the island of Samothrace within the larger Thrace...
, where she discovered a third statue of "Winged Victory
Nike (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Nike was a goddess who personified victory, also known as the Winged Goddess of Victory. The Roman equivalent was Victoria. Depending upon the time of various myths, she was described as the daughter of Pallas and Styx and the sister of Kratos , Bia , and Zelus...
" (1949) and recovered missing fingers of the hand of the famous Winged Victory of Samothrace
Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Winged Victory of Samothrace, also called the Nike of Samothrace, is a 2nd century BC marble sculpture of the Greek goddess Nike . Since 1884, it has been prominently displayed at the Louvre and is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world.-Description:The Nike of Samothrace,...
at the Louvre.
Biography
Williams received a B.A. from Wellesley College in 1934. She first visited SamothraceSamothrace
Samothrace is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea. It is a self-governing municipality within the Evros peripheral unit of Thrace. The island is long and is in size and has a population of 2,723 . Its main industries are fishing and tourism. Resources on the island includes granite and...
in 1938, as a doctoral student on the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
team led by Karl Lehmann. She was awarded her PhD in 1943 and married Lehmann the following year. She was assistant field director of the excavations at Samothrace 1948–1960 and acting director 1960–1965, and she remained closely involved with Samothrace for the rest of her career. She was a member of the faculty of Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
from 1946 to 1978 and was Dean there from 1965 to 1970.
Among her publications are The Pedimental Sculptures of the Hieron in Samothrace (1962) and Samothrace III: The Hieron, (1969), which was awarded the Hitchcock Award of the Society of Architectural Historians
Society of Architectural Historians
The Society of Architectural Historians is an international not-for-profit organization that promotes the study and preservation of the built environment worldwide....
in 1969.
In 1970 she retired to her home in Haydenville, Massachusetts, where she died in 2004.