Alexander Christian Leopold Conze (10 December 1831 – 19 July 1914) was a German
archaeologist, who specialized in ancient Greek art.
He was a native of
Hanover, and studied at the universities of
Göttingen and
Berlin. In 1855 he obtained his doctorate at Berlin as a student of
Eduard Gerhard. In 1863 he became an associate professor at the
University of Halle,[1] and from 1869 to 1877, he served as a professor of archaeology at the
University of Vienna. In the 1870s, he performed two archaeological explorations at
Samothrace (1873 and 1875).[2] In 1876, with
Otto Hirschfeld, he organized the Archaeologic-Epigraphic Seminar at the university.[3]
Two types of medals were struck for Alexander Conze during lifetime. The first was emitted when he left the
University of Vienna in 1877. This piece has been made by famous Austrian engraver
Josef Tautenhayn. The reverse shows an
Athena Parthenos with a dedication in ancient Greek enclosed by a laurel wreath. The dedication names the memories and friendship that Conze will leave behind as reasons for commissioning this medal.[5]
Reise auf den Inseln des thrakischen Meeres (Travel to the islands of the
Thracian Sea, 1860.
Reise auf der Insel Lesbos (Travel on the island of
Lesbos), 1865.
Die Bedeutung der klassischen Archäologie (The importance of
classical archaeology). Wien 1869
Zur Geschichte der Anfänge der griechischen Kunst (The history of the beginnings of
Greek art). Wien 1870–1873.
Heroen- und Göttergestalten der griechischen Künste (Heroes and "god-figures" in Greek art). Wien 1874.
Römische Bildwerke einheimischer Fundorte in Österreich (Roman works locally discovered in Austria). Wien 1872–78.
Archäologische Untersuchungen auf Samothrake; with Alois Hauser,
George Niemann,
Otto Benndorf (Archaeological investigations on Samothrace); 2 volumes, 1875–80.
Über griechische Grabreliefs (On Greek grave reliefs), 1877.
Die Ergebnisse der Ausgrabung zu Pergamon 1880-1881, (Results of the excavation at Pergamon in 1880–81), 1882.[7]