Gods, Graves and Scholars
![]() Cover of a German edition of Gods, Graves, and Scholars. | |
Author | C. W. Ceram |
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Publication date | 1949 |
Gods, Graves, and Scholarsis a book by German writerC. W. Ceramabout the history ofarchaeology.First published in 1949, Ceram's book introduced the general reading public to the origin and development of archaeology. It sold extremely well — over five million copies have been published in 30 languages — and remains in print today.[1]
The book coversGreek,Egyptian,Mesopotamian,as well asMexican,Central American,andSouth Americanarchaeology. It gives brief biographies of archaeologists likeHeinrich Schliemann,Jean-François Champollion,Paul-Émile Botta,andHoward Carter,among others.[2][1]
The book inspired the graphic artist and satirist Hans Traxler to his "fairy-tale archaeological" parody The Truth about Hansel and Gretel, which was initially not recognized as a parody by numerous media and the public, and which depicts how the teacher Georg Ossegg allegedly archaeologically explores the witch's house of Hansel and Gretel. The book was also used as a source of inspiration for the book.[3]
References
[edit]- ^abCornelius Holtorf:Archaeology is a brand!: the meaning of archaeology in contemporary popular culture.Archaeopress 2007,ISBN978-1-905739-06-6,p. 68 (online copy,p. 68, atGoogle Books)
- ^Robert Kanigel:Vintage reading: from Plato to Bradbury: A personal tour of some of the world's best books.Bancroft Press 1998,ISBN0-9631246-7-6,p. 116-117 (online copy,p. 116, atGoogle Books)
- ^Glauert, Amanda (2002).Hänsel und Gretel.Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.o902157.