TDie Geschichte der Klassischen Archäologie an der JGU Mainz beginnt mit der Erstbesetzung des Lehrstuhls. Das Verfahren, in dem mehrere namhafte Vertreter des Faches zur Berufung vorgeschlagen wurden, zog sich über einen längeren Zeitraum hin, und blieb zunächst ergebnislos. Das Amt erhielt schließlich im Jahr 1948 Roland Hampe (1908–1981), der von Kiel nach Mainz wechselte und hier fast zehn Jahre wirkte, bis er 1957 die Mainzer Universität verließ, um fortan in Heidelberg zu lehren. Hampe fing in Mainz praktisch bei null an. Da die alte Mainzer Universität nach dem Ende des Kurmainzischen Staates nicht weiter existierte, gab es an der wieder gegründeten JGU keinerlei archäologischen Lehrapparat, wie er an anderen Traditionsuniversitäten vor allem im 19. und frühen 20. Jahrhundert sukzessive zusammengetragen worden war, auf den Hampe hätte zurückgreifen können. Gleichwohl gingen er und seine Mitarbeiter, darunter Erika Simon (1927–2019) und German Hafner (1911–2008) mit großem Elan daran, zunächst eine Bibliothek und bald darauf auch eigene Sammlungen für den Lehrbetrieb aufzubauen. Letztere dienten zudem einer inner- wie außeruniversitären Vermittlungsarbeit, die sich an ein nicht fachspezifisches, allgemein interessiertes Publikum wendete.

Hampe’s research clearly had a Greek focus. Of particular note from his time in Mainz are the fundamental investigations into an Attic grave find, which came to JGU through his efforts, and his early interdisciplinary interest in Greek pottery and the associated manufacturing techniques. Hampe worked closely with Adam Winter, a ceramist living in Mainz-Kastel, with whom he undertook joint research trips, resulting in several publications. This laid the foundation in Mainz for later DFG projects in Heidelberg, in which natural sciences subjects were also involved. Hampe did real pioneering work here.

Durch German Hafner und Erika Simon wurden darüber hinaus zum Teil andere Lehr- und Forschungsimpulse gesetzt. So habilitierte sich Hafner 1951 mit einer Untersuchung über Späthellenistische Bildnisplastik – Versuch einer landschaftlichen Gliederung (erschienen 1954). Diese Forschungen dehnte er später auf den Bereich der etruskischen Terrakottavotivköpfe aus. In mehreren Aufsätzen publizierte er in den 1960er Jahren den entsprechenden Bestand des vatikanischen Museo Gregoriano Etrusco. Hervorzuheben sind ferner Hafners populärwissenschaftliche Bemühungen. Schon 1961 legte er im Züricher Atlantis-Verlag eine Geschichte der griechischen Kunst vor, der wenige Jahre später in der Reihe Kunst im Bild des Baden Badener Verlages Holle die Bände Kreta und Hellas (1968) sowie Athen und Rom (1969) folgten. Hafners berühmtestes Buch dürften freilich seine 1978 publizierten Sternstunden der Archäologien – Wissenschaftler auf Spuren alter Kulturen sein. Bis zu seinem Tod publizierte Hafner weitere wissenschaftliche als auch populärwissenschaftliche Abhandlungen.

Compared to German Hafner, Erika Simon only worked in Mainz for a relatively short time. Her professorial dissertation on the Portland Vase, submitted in the winter semester of 1956/1957, was published shortly afterwards in 1957 by the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz. Simon researched and taught on both Greek and Roman topics during her time in Mainz, so that together with Hafner she formed an ideal complement to Hampe. After leaving Mainz and moving to Heidelberg in 1959, she became one of the most influential and academically productive German-speaking archaeologists of the 20th century.

Zugleich mit Hampe, Hafner und Simon wirkte von 1953 bis zu seiner Emeritierung 1959 der von der Universität Jena wegen seiner NS-Vergangenheit entlassene Walter Hahland (1901–1966) als sogenannter „Professor zur Wiederverwendung“ an der Mainzer Universität. Hauptberuflich war er in dieser Zeit als Leiter der Presseabteilung der in Mainz ansässigen Jenaer Glaswerke Schott tätig.

Die durch Hampe und seinen Mitarbeitern gebotene thematische Vielfalt wurde auch unter Hampes Nachfolger Frank Brommer (1911–1993) beibehalten, der selbst wie sein Vorgänger auf dem Lehrstuhl vor allem einen griechischen Forschungsschwerpunkt hatte. Brommer blieb von 1958 an bis zu seiner Emeritierung im Jahr 1976 in Mainz und entfaltete hier eine reiche Lehr- und Forschungstätigkeit. Entsprechend seiner Bedeutung als einer der angesehensten Parthenon-Forscher seiner Zeit – er verfasste mehrere Monografien zum Bildschmuck des Tempels – wirkte er darüber hinaus während seiner Mainzer Professur gastweise an bedeutenden Forschungsinstituten in Amerika und an einer englischen Universität.

In contrast to Hampe, Brommer placed greater emphasis on expanding the plaster cast collection. He achieved significant growth in this area. He was also the driving force behind the Institute’s move from Schönborner Hof on Schillerplatz in the city center to the newly built Philosophicum on the campus grounds at the end of the 1960s. The decisive factors in his decision were the proximity to the other ancient studies libraries and the university library and the fact that the institute finally had a modern infrastructure including its own premises for the library, the photo library, the original collection and the cast collection. With the establishment of his own photo library and contemporary slide library, Brommer put the finishing touches, so to speak, to the development of the classical archaeology teaching apparatus. After more than twenty years of intensive efforts, Mainz was thus one of the better equipped chairs in Germany. Consolidation also continued in terms of personnel. Hafner, who had held the title of adjunct professor since 1957, was given the appointment of scientific advisor in 1963, which meant that his position was finally made permanent. After his retirement in 1976, this position was repeatedly filled as the second Mainz professorship for Classical Archaeology.

Ebenso gelang es, zusätzlich zu den beiden festangestellten Professores eine ganze Reihe von Nachwuchswissenschaftler*innen für Mainz zu gewinnen, von denen einige in Mainz habilitierten. Zu nennen ist zunächst Hagen Biesantz (1924–1996), der ab 1959 als Assistent von Brommer in Mainz lehrte. Seine Habilitationsschrift von 1962 trägt den Titel Die thessalischen Grabreliefs – Studien zur nordgriechischen Kunst und erschien 1965. Biesantz‘ archäologische Karriere endete nur wenig später, da er sich ab 1966 zunehmend und dann ausschließlich auf seine Arbeit im Vorstand der Allgemeinen Anthroposophischen Gesellschaft am Goetheanum in der Nähe von Basel konzentrierte. Klaus Tuchelt (1931–2001), der 1964 nach Mainz kam und hier 1968 eine Habilitationsschrift zu Die archaischen Skulpturen von Didyma – Beiträge zur frühgriechischen Plastik in Kleinasien vorlegte, blieb der Wissenschaft hingegen erhalten. Von Mainz führte ihn sein Weg 1969 nach Istanbul, wo er als Zweiter Direktor der dortigen Abteilung des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts tätig war, bis er 1981 als Erster Direktor und Stellvertreter des Präsidenten an die Zentrale nach Berlin ging. Lange Jahre leitete er zudem die Ausgrabungen in Didyma. Ein anderer Assistent Brommers, Hermann Büsing, kam nach dem DAI-Reisestipendium 1968/69 an die Mainzer Universität. Dort wählte er ein lokales Thema für seine Habilitationsschrift Römische Militärarchitektur in Mainz (erschienen 1982), die er allerdings erst 1977 nach seinem Wechsel an die Ruhr-Universität Bochum vollendete und dort einreichte. Nach dem Weggang Büsings kümmerte sich zunächst auf Bitten Brommers Ursula Höckmann um die frei gewordenen Dienstgeschäfte. Auch sie habilitierte sich in Mainz, jedoch erst im Wintersemester 1979/1980 unter Fleischer und Wesenberg. Zum Gegenstand ihrer Arbeit wählte sie sich Die Bronzen aus dem Fürstengrab von Castel San Mariano bei Perugia (erschienen 1982). Höckmann war damit eine der wenigen deutschsprachigen Wissenschaftler*innen in der sehr kleinen Runde der internationalen Etruskolog*innen. Von ihr stammt auch der 1987 veröffentlichte Band zu etruskischen Spiegeln diverser deutscher Sammlungen in der Reihe des Corpus Speculorum Etruscorum. Ab 1997 arbeitete Höckmann schließlich als Teilprojektleiterin in einem DFG-Sonderforschungsbereich (s.u.) und widmete sich fortan intensiv Naukratis sowie der zyprischen Kunst. Brommer ließ seinen Mitarbeiter*innen mehr oder minder freie Hand bei der Auswahl ihrer Qualifikationsarbeiten. Dies führte in einem positiven Sinn zu einer thematischen Vielfalt, die ihre Spuren auch in der Lehre hinterlassen hat und von der die Mainzer Studierenden damals nur profitieren konnten.

Mit der 1977 erfolgten Berufung Robert Fleischers auf den Lehrstuhl begann eine neue Ära. Da auch German Hafner 1976 pensioniert worden war, stand insgesamt ein Generationenwechsel ins Haus, der 1978 mit dem Amtsantritt von Burkhardt Wesenberg als Nachfolger Hafners einen vorläufigen Abschluss fand. Bis zum Weggang Wesenbergs 1985 nach Regensburg dominierten am Mainzer Institut die thematischen Schwerpunkte der beiden Professores, Archäologie des antiken Kleinasiens und benachbarter Regionen sowie Kunst des Hellenismus (Fleischer) und antike Architektur (Wesenberg), den Lehr- und Forschungsalltag, wobei in der Ausbildung der Studierenden stets auch andere Themen zur Sprache kamen. Während seiner Tätigkeit in Mainz publizierte Fleischer mehrere ausführliche Untersuchungen zu wichtigen Einzelmonumenten bzw. Denkmälergruppen, so die Arbeiten zum Klagefrauensarkophag aus Sidon (1983), den Studien zur seleukidischen Kunst – Herrscherbildnisse (1991) und dem Wiener Amazonensarkophag (1998). An der letzten Arbeit waren zahlreiche Mainzer Studierende beteiligt. Daneben publizierte er auch zu provinzialrömischen Themen (Die römische Straßenstation Immurium-Moosham im Salzburger Lungau,1988) und zu Fragen des Kulturkontaktes (Figurale Bronzen ägyptischer und griechisch-römischer Art vom Jabal al-´Awd, Jemen, 2012). Zuletzt erschien seine Abhandlung zu den Felsgräbern der pontischen Könige in Amasya (2017).

Zusätzlich zu der fest installierten Assistentenstelle konnte bald noch eine weitere feste Mitarbeiter*innenstelle besetzt werden, die sich hauptsächlich um die Bibliothek zu kümmern hatte. Sie wurde zunächst von Dagmar Kemp-Lindemann bekleidet, der 1981 Renate Bol folgte. Bol habilitierte sich 1994 mit einer Arbeit zu den Amzones Volneratae – Untersuchungen zu den ephesischen Amazonenstatuen (1998). Ab 1997 war Bol ebenso wie Höckmann als Teilprojektleiterin in einem geisteswissenschaftlichen Sonderforschungsbereich (s. u.) tätig, wo sie sich hauptsächlich mit der Kunst und Kultur der Phönizier sowie des antiken Zyperns befasste. Zu Fleischers Assistenten zählten Friederike Naumann, der heute als Professor für Etruskologie der Universität Roma Tre lehrende Stephan Steingräber und Klaus Junker, von denen sich die beiden letztgenannten auch in Mainz habilitierten: zunächst Steingräber 1994 mit der Schrift Arpi – Apulien – Makedonien – Studien zum unteritalischen Grabwesen in hellenistischer Zeit (2000) und dann Junker 2001 mit Legend and myth criticism – hermeneutic studies on Greek legends of the 6th and 5th centuries BC. Darüber hinaus gab es zwei externe Habilitationen am Mainzer Institut. In 1996, Brommer student Thomas Weber-Karyotakis, who had worked on Gadara Decapolitana, and in 2003 Caterina Maderna, who obtained her doctorate with a doctoral degree in Heidelberg under Tonio Hölscher, successfully received one’s post-doctoral professorial qualification with Der Kampf der Götter gegen die Giganten – Zur Geschichte und Funktion des Mythos in der griechischen und römischen Bildkunst (from [XY University]). From 1997, Weber, together with Bol and Höckmann, was also one of the classical-archaeological sub-project leaders of the Mainz SFB (see below). His students Michael Siebler and Dominique Svenson as well as Hendrik Svenson-Evers, who obtained a doctorate from Burkardt Wesenberg, and Leibundgut’s student Friederike Fless, who now heads the German Archaeological Institute as president after holding a professorship at the FU Berlin, also worked at the Institute for a shorter period under Fleischer’s aegis.

In 1987, Annalis Leibundgut (1932-2014) moved from Trier to Mainz to take up the vacant second professorship, which she held until 1997. She was succeeded in 1998 by Detlev Kreikenbom, who retired in 2018. It is thanks to Leibundgut that Classical Archaeology in Mainz played a central role from the very beginning in the establishment and then the regular continuation of the Collaborative Research Center 295 “Cultural and Linguistic Contacts – Processes of Change in Historical Fields of Tension in Northeast Africa/West Asia”. During the twelve-year funding period from 1997 to 2008, numerous scholars conducted research on a wide variety of topics in several classical archaeological sub-projects. During this time, many international symposia were organized in Mainz with the funding, and the numerous publications, some of which appeared in specially founded scientific series, testify to the scientific research results of the CRC. The activities of Detlev Kreikenbom and his team in Leptis Magna are particularly noteworthy, as the classical archaeologists in Mainz had their own excavation abroad. Detlev Kreikenbom also succeeded in acquiring further third-party research funding on several occasions: Greek-Roman marble sculpture from Syria; The military edict of Emperor Athanasios I from al-Hallabat; Edition of Jacob Burckhardt’s writings on the arts of antiquity; Greco-Roman metal sculpture from the Oriental provinces of the Imperium Romanum and the Arab Barbaricum. He was also involved in the successful application for a Research Training Group on the topic of Space and ritual – function, meaning and use of sacred spaces and places involved. With Annalis Leibundgut and Detlev Kreikenbom, the institute included internationally recognized specialists in the field of ancient sculpture and the history of its reception. In this way, both formed an ideal complement to Robert Fleischer’s main areas of interest. Unfortunately, Leibundgut was unable to complete her “intellectual biography”, as she herself called it, of the famous Apollo of the Belvedere before her death. The manuscript and the accompanying documents are kept in the Mainz University Archives.

During the years Fleischer and first Leibundgut and then Kreikenbom worked together, a whole series of other researchers worked in Mainz. Some Mainz students successfully obtained a doctorate (from.) with corresponding dissertation projects as employees of the CRC. [XY University] with a dissertation on …): Mohammed Al-Daire, Die fünfschiffige Basilika in Gadara-Umm-Quais Jordan (2001); Simone Frede, Die phönizischen anthropoiden Sarkophage, Teil 1, Fundgruppen und Bestattungskontexte (2000); Karl-Uwe Mahler, Die Architekturdekoration der frühen Kaiserzeit in Lepcis Magna (2005); Andreas Stylianou, Der Sarkophag aus Amathous als Beispiel kontaktinduzierten Wandels (2004). However, the focus at that time was not exclusively on SFB-relevant topics. In addition to the intensive research activities, important teaching impulses were also provided. For example, under Klaus Junker’s direction, Mainz students developed a special exhibition with a printed catalog on the Greek vases from the Mainz University collection, entitled From Myth and Lifeworld, which was on display at the Mainz State Museum in 1999. In addition, even before the actual reform process began, Klaus Junker was in charge of developing a completely new type of archaeological bachelor’s degree program that encompassed all the archaeological disciplines represented at Mainz University (Biblical, Christian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology and Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology) and in which students were able to enroll for the first time in 2004.

When Robert Fleischer became emeritus professor in 2006 and the SFB came to an end in 2008, another phase of reorientation in terms of content and personnel began, which lasted until 2019. The first step was the appointment of Heide Frielinghaus as Fleischer’s successor in 2008. Following on from Hampe and Brommer’s research units [im Rahmen der Forschungsinitiative 2008-11], she now focused on the archaeology of Greece. Visible signs of this include the establishment of her own series, published jointly with Jutta Stroszeck of the DAI Athens “Beiträge zur Archäologie Griechenlands” and the relevant international research colloquia published in it, which have already brought numerous Greek co-workers to Mainz. In 2017, Frielinghaus’ assistant Oliver Pilz received his academic staff members with a habilitation on a Greek topic(cults and sanctuaries in Elis and Tripyhlia) and has been teaching as a professor (DAAD long-term lecturer in Classical Archaeology) at the Department of Archaeology, School of Archaeology and Tourism at the University of Jordan in Amman since 2019. Pilz’s successor Anne Sieverling also has a Greek research unit [im Rahmen der Forschungsinitiative 2008-11]. Students from Mainz were and are regularly involved in Pilz’s (Kaulonia in Calabria) and Sieverling’s (Palairos in Acarnania) projects abroad.

In the course of Heide Frielinghaus’ appointment negotiations, it was also possible, exactly 60 years after the founding of Classical Archaeology in Mainz, to establish a permanent curatorial position for the collections, held by Patrick Schollmeyer. Since then, both collection rooms have been renovated and special exhibitions are held regularly. Together with Art History, a proposal to establish a university-wide exhibition pavilion, the so-called School of Seeing, was also successful in 2010/11, in which the classical archaeology collections have already been a frequent guest. However, a presence was also shown outside the university, for example in 2014 with a studio exhibition in the Mainz State Museum to mark the 2000th anniversary of the death of Emperor Augustus. Other outreach activities include the establishment of the Mainz Archaeological Network University School(MANUS), within the framework of which the advanced training events for pupils and teachers in Rhineland-Palatinate schools, mainly supervised by Schollmeyer, take place, and the founding of the “Friends of Classical Archaeology at JGU Mainz” at the end of 2019.

As part of a joint appointment procedure, Classical Archaeology in Mainz was able to add another professorship to its staff: With the 2018 appointment of Alexandra W. Busch as Director General of the RGZM and University Professor, an additional focus in the field of archaeology of the Roman provinces, which is very rarely represented at German universities, was successfully established. It is an ideal complement to the other specialist areas of Classical Archaeology in Mainz, within which the two older chairs are primarily dedicated to the archaeology of Greece and Rome.

The appointment of Johannes Lipps as successor to Detlev Kreikenbom in 2019 brought new research projects in the field of Roman archaeology to Mainz: Ancient cities on Djerba, Excavations in the so-called Comitium of Pompeii, The ancient building elements in the Gregoriano Profano Museum, The Roman architecture of Ladenburg, The late antique destruction of the Basilica Aemilia at the Forum Romanum, disiecta membra. Stone architecture and urbanism in Roman Germany. Zudem konnte ein GFK-Fellowship „Roman-City“ eingeworben werden. Lipp’s assistant, Paul Pasieka, in turn, writes with the project he is leading together with Mariachiara Franceschini (University of Freiburg) Cityscape and urban development of ancient Vulci he is continuing the Etruscan tradition (see above) of Classical Archaeology in Mainz.

Thanks to the different areas of interest of the three professors and their respective employees, the subject of Classical Archaeology can be studied at JGU in its entire chronological, geographical and thematic breadth. In addition, the Mainz location is particularly well connected with a large number of other ancient studies disciplines (Egyptology, Ancient History, Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology, Biblical Archaeology, Christian Archaeology, Classical Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Pre- and Protohistoric Archaeology), which is only found in this breadth at a few other German universities and which has already been reflected in joint projects (interdisciplinary courses, lecture series, conferences, exhibitions, publications and research proposals). To strengthen the joint activities, the majority of the subjects mentioned joined forces to form the joint Institute for Ancient Studies (IAW) with effect from October 1, 2013. In addition, the cooperation with the universities and non-university research institutions in the Rhine-Main area(VARM Rhine-Main Archaeology Network) enables further joint research and teaching projects, from which students in particular benefit, as they can, for example, attend lectures and seminars at all participating universities without major administrative hurdles. Additional important impetus has also been provided recently in the area of research and the expansion of international relations. Among a whole range of other interdisciplinary efforts, the two Research Training Groups Man and Nature and Byzantium and the Euromediterranean War Cultures as well as the large joint project 40,000 Years of Human Challenges: Perception, Conceptualization and Coping in Premodern Societies and the academic network Test of Strength: Domination – (Re-)Construction of Premodern Ruler Figures between Challenge and Assertion in which Classical Archaeology is involved. Further initiatives are currently being developed.

After more than 70 years of Classical Archaeology at JGU Mainz, the subject has reached a level of development that the first chair holder in 1948 could only have dreamed of. This applies both to the staffing and other resources (teaching apparatus) of the working group as well as its diverse activities in research, teaching and outreach.

The summer school will be five full days, from September 22 to 26, 2025 based at JGU in Mainz with field trips throughout the city. The course will be taught in English and German. An information session will be held on Tuesday 15 April at 18:00 in a hybrid format – in Philo I, P 210 and online. Please email for the link to participate remotely. Enrollment is also possible for non-JGU students.

How do blocks make buildings, how do buildings make settlements, and how do places transform over time? This one week intensive summer school aims to answer these questions though a hands-on investigation into stone architecture in Roman Germany. The course offers a deep dive into the theories and methods of architectural and urban studies. Participants will learn and practice different techniques of architectural recording and structural analysis as well as participate in broader discussions about urbanism, settlement, and space on the frontier.

Drawing on the resources of Akademie des Wissenschaft project disiecta membra, this course will offer practical experience of recording architectural materials and structures in Mainz. With the successful completion of the course, students have the opportunity to participate in upcoming field projects in Great Britain and North Macedonia.

Research-based learning Fund processing for students

In the annual summer schools in Greece, students can acquire skills and knowledge of archaeological finds processing on the basis of finds from excavations and surface prospections in Greece.

In small groups, students learn how to technically draw, clause, photograph, catalog, archive and digitally process the finds. This not only trains their eye for different types of finds such as vessels, bricks, terracotta, weaving utensils and weapons, but also prepares them for future work in the scientific and museum sector. The internship also opens up the opportunity to write research and practice-oriented qualification papers during the program of study.

On the weekends, field trips to archaeological museums and ancient sites are offered, which allows students to link the finds they have seen and worked on with their sites and with comparable objects at other locations. The summer schools take place in the region of Acarnania (Palairos and Stratos) and in Olympia.