CURTIUS, kr,T)r'ts-Ms, EtoT8T (1814-96). A distinguished German archaeologist and his torian, born at Ltibeck. He studied philology at the universities of Bonn, G6ttingen, and Berlin, traveled in Greece and Italy. and in 1844 was ap pointed a professor at Berlin and preceptor of the Crown Prince Frederick William, afterwards Frederick III. From 1856 to 1863 he was pro fessor of classical archaeology and philology at G6ttingen, whence he returned to Berlin as pro fessor of ancient history. Since 1S53 Curtius was a member of the Academy of Sciences, and from 1871 to 1893 he was continuously secre tary of the philologico-historieal section of that institution. Under imperial commission in 1S74 he negotiated with the Greek Government in regard to the German excavations at Olympia, by him in the year. With Selffine he edited the A rchiio/ogisehe Zeitung. in which he published many iniportant contrilm lions. He must be reckoned among the great
scholars of modern Germany, a thinker of im perious influence alike in his academic instruc tion and in his published works. These latter in chide : Peloponnesos (2 vols., 1351-52), a study of the Greek peninsula with special reference ter its mythology, history, ft Ild 1114 mumen s of Oricehischc Gcschiehte (3 vols., 1857-67; 0th ed. 1839), in which he endeavored to present in popular form the results of expert research; A t tische Studien (1S63-64) ; and three volumes of colleeted lectures and addresses, entitled Alter tain and Gegenwart. Consult: Broicher, Erin 91Cr n ge n an Ernst Cm•tins (Berlin, 1896) ; also, for a brief but most appreciative study of his personality, Grimm, "Ernst Curtius: Ein Brief an seine Freunde." in the Deutsche Rundschau, vol. lxxxviii. (Berlin, 1S96).