Walter Andrae
Encyclopedia
Walter Andrae was a German archaeologist and architect
who was born near Leipzig
.
He initially studied architecture
, and in 1898 participated in an archaeological dig at Babylon
under the leadership of Robert Koldewey
(1855-1925). From 1903 to 1914 he directed the excavation of the ancient Assyrian
capital of Ashur
. During this time period he also performed archaeological excavations at Hatra
and Shuruppak
.
In 1921 Andrae became curator
of the Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin
, and from 1928 to 1951 was its director. Starting in 1923 he taught classes in architectural history
at the Technical University of Berlin
. During his career he also participated in excavation of the Hittite
city of Sam'al
. Among his better known writings were Der wiedererstandene Assur, and the autobiographical Lebenserinnerungen eines Ausgräbers (Living Memories of an Excavator). Other publications by Andrae include:
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who was born near Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
.
He initially studied architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, and in 1898 participated in an archaeological dig at Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
under the leadership of Robert Koldewey
Robert Koldewey
Robert Johann Koldewey was a German architect, famous for his discovery of the ancient city of Babylon in modern day Iraq. He was born in Blankenburg am Harz in Germany, the duchy of Brunswick, and died in Berlin at the age of 70...
(1855-1925). From 1903 to 1914 he directed the excavation of the ancient Assyrian
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
capital of Ashur
Ashur
Ashur |Shin]]) in the Masoretic text, which doubles the 'ש'), was the second son of Shem, the son of Noah. Ashur's brothers were Elam, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram....
. During this time period he also performed archaeological excavations at Hatra
Hatra
Hatra is an ancient city in the Ninawa Governorate and al-Jazira region of Iraq. It is currently known as al-Hadr, a name which appears once in ancient inscriptions, and it was in the ancient Iranian province of Khvarvaran. The city lies northwest of Baghdad and southwest of Mosul.-History:Hatra...
and Shuruppak
Shuruppak
Shuruppak or Shuruppag was an ancient Sumerian city situated about 35 miles south of Nippur on the banks of the Euphrates at the site of modern Tell Fara in Iraq's Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate....
.
In 1921 Andrae became curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
of the Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin
Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin
The Vorderasiatisches Museum is an archaeological museum in Berlin. It is in the basement of the south wing of the Pergamon museum and has one of the world's largest collections of Southwest Asian art. 14 halls distributed across 2000 square meters of exhibition surface display southwest Asian...
, and from 1928 to 1951 was its director. Starting in 1923 he taught classes in architectural history
Architectural History
Architectural History is the main journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain .The journal is published each autumn. The architecture of the British Isles is a major theme of the journal, although it includes more general papers on the history of architecture. Member of...
at the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
. During his career he also participated in excavation of the Hittite
Hittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
city of Sam'al
Sam'al
Sam'al was a Hittite and Aramaean city located at Zincirli Höyük in the Anti-Taurus Mountains of modern Turkey's Gaziantep Province.-History:thumb|200px|right|Historical map of the Neo-Hittite states, ca...
. Among his better known writings were Der wiedererstandene Assur, and the autobiographical Lebenserinnerungen eines Ausgräbers (Living Memories of an Excavator). Other publications by Andrae include:
- Der Anu-Adad-Tempel in Assur 1909
- Die Festungswerke von Assur 1913
- Die Stelenreihen in Assur 1913
- Die archaischen Ischtar-Tempel in Assur 1922
- Farbige Keramik aus Assur und ihre Vorstufen in altassyrischen Wandmalereien 1923
- Die Kunst des Alten Orients 1925
- Kultrelief an dem Brunnen des Assurtempels zu Assur 1931
- Die Partherstadt Assur (with Heinz Lenzen) 1933
- Die ionische Säule. Bauform oder Symbol? 1933
- Alte Festraßen im Nahen Osten 1941