Biographical Report on Heinrich Schliemann
Biographical Report on Heinrich Schliemann
The life of Heinrich Schliemann embodies the era of scientific discovery in the late eighteen hundreds. His is a tale of success, and that of man turned to myth. From a meager upbringing, he achieved success in business, and went on to make some of the most impacting archeological discoveries in the nineteenth century. Though copious amounts have been written on Schliemann, the accounts differ greatly, varying from hero to charlatan. From Schliemann's biographers, it remains difficult to glean an accurate perception of him; in many cases, legend is incorporated as fact, thus the man envisioned as Schliemann is the fusion of myth and reality. Regardless of whether one defines Schliemann as a genius after intellectual pursuits or a mere gold-digger, he remains a man that intrigues or induces curiosity. His story is "inextricably bound up with the beginnings of archaeology as a science" (Wood, 50)
It is widely believed that from Schliemann's youth, he was inspired by the writing of Homer, and determined to find and excavate Troy in order to prove the truth of its existence. Accounts vary on this theme, but commonly, this is considered true. Schliemann based his business ventures and wealth on his lifelong scholarly pursuits. Deviants to this notion, however, believe that Schliemann concocted the accounts of a lifelong obsession for the epic poems and all things Greek late in life in order to cover up the fact that he was merely in search of fame and fortune. As Wood writes in In Search of the Trojan War, "today it is customary to deride Schliemann's archaeological technique as well as his character" (Wood, 51). Schilemann is considered by some as a brilliant, self-taught man who climbed the ranks to achieve success, whose quick mind, wit and excitability lent themselves to create a most fascinating man.
Some historians maintain that Schliemann was passionate about Greek culture from his youth, immersing himself in it, even to the point of marrying a young Greek woman solely for her cultural roots. Legend has it that he held a contest in order to find the most eloquent reading of Homer's Iliad, however it is also said that a friend arranged the marriage. Schliemann's wife, Sophia (Figure 2), became an integral part of his life, contributing a great deal to his research and excavations. Schliemann's seemed determined to bring to life the ancient lore of...