Gustav Adolf Deissmann (1866-1937) and the revival of archaeological excavations at Ephesus after the First World War

Abstract

In his lifetime Gustav Adolf Deissmann was celebrated as the reviver of the archaeological excavations of Ephesus and the oneman through whose 'unceasing benefaction' the city's historical heritage was able to be preserved for future generations. Yet hisunique and long protracted rescuing role for the once-foremost city in Asia has today been almost completely forgotten; and evenamong archaeologists and historians few would associate his name with archaeology, fewer still with the salvaging of Ephesus'extraordinary story. Nevertheless, immeasurable historical losses were averted in the nick of time because of Dcissmann's"proactivedetennination to preserve the legacy of Ephesus's past millennia, at a historical moment when much of it was about to passinto oblivion.