Walter Andrae

Walter Andrae was a German archaeologist and architect born near Leipzig.

Career

Archaeologist

Andrae initially studied architecture at the Dresden University of Technology, where he befriended a younger student, Julius Jordan, with a life-changing effect on him.
In 1898, Andrae participated in an archaeological dig at Babylon under the leadership of Robert Koldewey. He played an influential role in the smuggling of the Ishtar Gate out of the country. From 1903 to 1914, he directed the excavation of the ancient Assyrian capital of Assur. During this time period, he also performed archaeological excavations at Hatra and Shuruppak. Another significant archaeological site that he was involved in was the Hittite city of Sam'al.

Museum curator and director

In 1921 Andrae became curator of the Vorderasiatisches [Museum Berlin], where from 1928 to 1951 he served as its director. Starting in 1923, he taught classes in architectural history at Technische Universität Berlin.

Published works

Among his better known writings were Der wiedererstandene Assur, and the autobiographical Lebenserinnerungen eines Ausgräbers. Other publications by Andrae include:Der Anu-Adad-Tempel in Assur 1909Die Festungswerke von Assur 1913Die Stelenreihen in Assur 1913Die archaischen Ischtar-Tempel in Assur 1922Farbige Keramik aus Assur und ihre Vorstufen in altassyrischen Wandmalereien 1923Die Kunst des Alten Orients 1925Kultrelief an dem Brunnen des Assurtempels zu Assur 1931Die Partherstadt Assur 1933Die ionische Säule. Bauform oder Symbol? 1933Alte Festraßen im Nahen Osten 1941