Théophile Homolle


Jean Théophile Homolle was a French archaeologist and classical philologist.

Biography

From 1869 he studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, receiving his agrégation for history in 1874. He then became a member of the French School at Athens, of which, he directed a highly successful excavation at Delos. For several years he taught classes in ancient Greek and Latin at the University of Nancy, and in 1884 became a substitute professor for Paul Foucart at Collège de France.
From 1891 to 1903 he served as director of the French School at Athens, during which time, he was in charge of an important excavation at Delphi. From 1904 to 1911 he was director of national museums, but was forced to relinquish this position due to the theft of the Mona Lisa in August 1911. After a brief stay at Athens, he returned to Paris, where from 1913 to 1923, he was director of the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

Selected works