Frank Calvert

Frank Calvert was a British archaeologist and Consul of the United Kingdom in Istanbul, known for his excavations at Hisarlik and his contributions to the field of Classical archaeology. Calvert's work was influenced by the discoveries of Heinrich Schliemann at Troy and the writings of Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey. He was also familiar with the works of Charles Newton and the excavations at Halikarnassus. Calvert's excavations were supported by the British Museum and the Society of Dilettanti.

● Early Life and Education

Frank Calvert was born in Malta in 1828 to a family of British diplomats. His father, James Calvert, was a Consul of the United Kingdom in Istanbul, and his uncle, Louis Calvert, was a Consul in Smyrna. Calvert's early education took place in Istanbul and Athens, where he developed an interest in Classical antiquity and Archaeology. He was influenced by the works of Edward Gibbon and the History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Calvert also studied the writings of Thucydides and Herodotus, which shaped his understanding of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome.

● Career and Archaeological Work

Calvert began his career as a Consul of the United Kingdom in Istanbul, following in the footsteps of his father and uncle. He was also an avid archaeologist and excavated several sites in Anatolia, including Pergamon and Ephesus. Calvert's work was supported by the British Museum and the Society of Dilettanti, which provided him with funding and resources for his excavations. He was also in contact with other archaeologists, including Charles Fellows and Austen Henry Layard, who were excavating sites in Lycia and Nineveh. Calvert's excavations were influenced by the discoveries of Paul-Émile Botta at Nineveh and the writings of George Grote on Ancient Greece.

● Excavations at Hisarlik

Calvert's most notable excavations took place at Hisarlik, a site in northwest Anatolia that he believed to be the location of Troy. He began excavating the site in 1863, several years before the arrival of Heinrich Schliemann, who would later claim to have discovered the site. Calvert's excavations at Hisarlik were supported by the British Museum and the Society of Dilettanti, and he uncovered several layers of occupation, including a city that he believed to be Troy. Calvert's work at Hisarlik was influenced by the writings of Homer and the Iliad, as well as the discoveries of Charles Newton at Halikarnassus. He was also familiar with the excavations of Giovanni Battista Belzoni in Egypt and the discoveries of Flinders Petrie in Palestine.

● Relationship with Heinrich Schliemann

Calvert's relationship with Heinrich Schliemann was complex and often contentious. Schliemann arrived at Hisarlik in 1870, several years after Calvert had begun excavating the site. Schliemann claimed to have discovered the site and uncovered the treasures of Troy, but Calvert disputed his claims and argued that he had been excavating the site for years. The two men had fundamentally different approaches to archaeology, with Calvert emphasizing the importance of careful excavation and documentation, while Schliemann was more focused on making sensational discoveries. Despite their differences, Calvert and Schliemann maintained a correspondence, and Calvert was familiar with Schliemann's excavations at Mycenae and Tiryns. He was also aware of the discoveries of Arthur Evans at Knossos and the excavations of David George Hogarth at Carchemish.

● Legacy and Contributions

Calvert's legacy in the field of Archaeology is significant, and his contributions to the understanding of Classical antiquity are still recognized today. He was a pioneer in the field of Archaeology and his excavations at Hisarlik and other sites in Anatolia helped to shed light on the history and culture of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Calvert's work was also influential in the development of Archaeology as a discipline, and he was a key figure in the establishment of the British School at Athens. He was also familiar with the work of William Matthew Flinders Petrie and the Egypt Exploration Society, as well as the excavations of Leonard Woolley at Ur. Calvert's legacy extends beyond the field of Archaeology, and his contributions to the understanding of Classical antiquity have had a lasting impact on the fields of History, Classics, and Art History.

● Personal Life and Later Years

Calvert spent his later years in Istanbul, where he continued to work as a Consul and pursue his interests in Archaeology. He was a member of the Oriental Club and the Society of Dilettanti, and he maintained a correspondence with other archaeologists and scholars, including Theodor Mommsen and Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff. Calvert died in 1908, at the age of 80, and was buried in the Haydarpaşa Cemetery in Istanbul. His legacy continues to be recognized today, and his contributions to the field of Archaeology remain an important part of the history of the discipline. He is also remembered for his connections to other notable figures, including Richard Francis Burton and Gertrude Bell. Category:Archaeologists