Eric Birley

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Eric Barff Birley (born January 12, 1906 in Eccles , Lancashire , England , † October 20, 1995 in Greenhead, Northumberland , England) was a British ancient historian and Roman provincial archaeologist . He was an important explorer of Hadrian's Wall , especially Vindolanda . His specialty was the Roman military .

Life

Birley studied at Clifton College and Oxford . His teachers there were RG Collingwood and Frank Gerald Simpson, under whose direction he first took part in excavations in Birdoswald Castle on Hadrian's Wall in 1927 . During the Second World War , Birley served as a lieutenant in the military reconnaissance service and received several awards. From 1931 he taught at the University of Durham , from 1956 to 1971 as a professor of Roman-British history and archeology, where he was also dean of the social sciences from 1968 to 1971 . In 1969 he became a member of the British Academy .

His international contacts, including with Ernst Fabricius , led to the first Limes Congress , which was held in Durham in 1949.

He was married for over 60 years and had two sons, Robin and Anthony , who both also became well-known classical scholars.

Fonts (selection)

  • Roman Britain and the Roman army. Collected papers. Titus Wilson & Son, Kendal 1953 (new editions 1961 and 1976).
  • Research on Hadrian's Wall. Titus Wilson & Son, Kendal 1961.
  • The Roman Army. Papers 1929-1986 (= Mavors. Roman Army Researches. Volume 4). JC Gieben, Amsterdam 1988, ISBN 90-5063-007-3 .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Deceased Fellows. British Academy, accessed May 6, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Birley, Eric
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Birley, Eric Barff (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British ancient historian and Roman provincial archaeologist
DATE OF BIRTH January 12, 1906
PLACE OF BIRTH Eccles
DATE OF DEATH October 20, 1995
Place of death Greenhead, Northumberland