Elizabeth Pierce Blegen

American Classical archaeologist, born in Pennsylvania, who earned her B.A. and M.A. in Classics at Vassar and her Ph.D. from Columbia in 1922. Pierce had taught at Vassar while a graduate student, but had no permanent position there. She attended the American School of Classical Studies in Athens (1922-23) and then helped Gisela Richter at the Metropolitan Museum of Art the following winter and spring. Afterwards she married the archaeologist Carl Blegen whom she had met in Athens and returned to Greece with him. From now on she would participate in his excavations and contribute to his publications. Her close friend Ida Thallon, who had initially encouraged her interest in Greek archaeology, married the Director of the American School at Athens, Bert H. Hill. The two couples then took up lodging together and stayed living together for the rest of their lives. Elizabeth worked with her husband at Prosymna (1927-28), Troy (1932-38), and Pylos 1939 and 1952-58). She often constructed the bibliographies and indices for his books, but also contributed the chapter on jewelry for his publication of the Helladic settlement site of Prosymna.

Author of biography: Elizabeth Langridge-Noti
Includes bibliography? Yes

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Keywords: Allegheny Pennsylvania, William Lemmex Pierce, Vassar College, Ida Thallon Hill, Greek archaeology, Elizabeth Hazelton Haight, American School of Classical Studies at Rome, American Philological Association, Grace Harriet Macurdy, Catherine Saunders, Columbia University, J.R. Wheeler, C.H. Young, G.W. Botsford, G. Asinius Pollio, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Natalie Gifford, Augustus Murray, Leicester B. Holland, Carl Blegen, Bert H. Hill, Alice Walker, Helen Negreponte, Daedaalid, Skimatarai Museum, Eugene Vaanderpool, Kate McKnight, Gisela Richter, E. Capps, Ploutarchou Street, Prosymna, Helladic Settlement, Argive Heraeum, Troy, Pylos, Lapithos, Cyprus, Corinth, Lucy Shoe Meritt, American Women in Greece, Hellenic American Women's Club, American Association of University Women, American Historical Association, Archaeological Institute of America, American Mission, First Cemetery of Athens