Carl Humann

Carl Humann is a Architecte and Archéologue German born the January 4th 1839 in Steele close to Essen and dead the April 12th 1896 with Smyrna. One owes him the redécouverte of the Grand Furnace bridge of Pergame.

Of fragile health, at the end of its studies, it took the advice of its doctors and left in the south. It arrived at Raising in 1861.

He travelled through the Ottoman Empire during six years. It collected antiquities, sent geographical information to Heinrich Kiepert with Berlin. It accepted also some commissions, like the construction of a residence for a British ambassador.

In 1862, his/her Franz brother became diplomatic agent with Samos. Franz was made grant by the Sultan in 1867 the construction of five roads or railways in minor Asia, including one connecting Constantinople to Smyrna. Carl joined it and saw himself entrusting the responsibility for a team for 2.000 workmen and 500 animals (oxen, camels, mules).

Carl Humann had started to make excavations on Samos, then in Smyrna. In 1864, it made a first visit with Pergame which fascinated it immediately. It was also marked by an emergency feeling: the ruins of the city were used to nourish the lime kilns of the surroundings.

The September 27th 1871, it accepted the visit of Ernst Curtius, the German archeologist discoverer of Olympie. This one admired the sculptures which it had found and which seemed to constitute a series. Curtius convainquit Humann to send its lucky finds to Berlin.<

In 1877, the sculptures were identified by the new director of the Museum of Berlin: it was about Gigantomachie of the Grand Furnace bridge of Pergame. He wrote in Humann which then aspired to the position of director of a salt mine to propose to him to become representing Museum in Turkey. He sent 2.700 Marks to him after having received his agreement. The German State obtained a decree authorizing it to excavate in Pergame and work began the September 9th 1878. Two springtides of excavations took place in 1880-1881 and 1883-1886.

Source: Richard Stoneman, Land off Lost Gods. The Search for Classical Greece. , Hutchinson, London, 1987,), p. 287-289.

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