Alison Frantz facts for kids

Alison Frantz (born September 27, 1903 – died February 1, 1995) was a talented photographer and expert in Byzantine history. She studied ancient Greek and Byzantine cultures. After finishing her studies, she traveled to Greece. There, she joined the important Athenian Agora Excavations. She was the official photographer for the Agora from 1939 to 1964. She is especially famous for her amazing photographs of ancient Greek sculptures. As an archaeologist, she helped us understand more about the later periods of the Agora, especially the Byzantine and Ottoman times.

Her Early Life and Learning

Alison Frantz went to Smith College and earned her first degree in Classics in 1924. Classics is the study of ancient Greek and Roman cultures. She then continued her studies at Columbia University. There, she focused on the Byzantine period, which was a later part of the Roman Empire.

Starting Her Career

Frantz began working at the Athenian Agora Excavations in 1934. She started as an assistant in the records department. From a young age, Alison loved photography. She watched her brother develop photos in his dark room. Soon, she decided to use her passion for photography in archaeology. She started helping Herman Wagner, the main photographer for the Agora. By 1939, she became the official photographer herself.

Just before World War II, Frantz had a very important job. She had only two days to photograph over 600 clay tablets. These tablets had a mysterious writing system called Linear B. The famous American archaeologist Carl Blegen found them at the Mycenaean palace of Pylos. Alison's photographs were very important. They greatly helped Michael Ventris figure out what the Linear B script meant.

During World War II

During World War II (1940–1945), Frantz worked closely with the Office of Strategic Services. This group gathered information for the United States government. She kept Washington informed about what was happening in Greece during the war. After the war ended, she became a cultural attaché for the United States Embassy in Athens. She helped start the Fulbright Program in Greece. This program helps students and scholars from different countries study and teach abroad.

Her Big Contributions

Alison Frantz made a huge difference in archaeology and the history of the Athenian Agora. She believed it was important to study archaeological sites over a long period of time. She focused on recording and studying the later periods of the Agora. These included Late Antiquity and the Byzantine era. She was one of the first experts to write about the Byzantine and Ottoman items found at the Agora. She also worked closely with John Travlos. Together, they helped restore the Church of the Holy Apostles. This is the only Byzantine building still standing in the Athenian Agora today.

A Master Photographer

As a photographer, Frantz captured 25 years of discoveries (1939–1964). She photographed people and archaeological life at the Athenian Agora. Her skill in archaeological photography was well known. She traveled all around the Mediterranean Sea. She photographed many archaeological sites, especially ancient Greek sculptures. She is most famous for her pictures of the Parthenon Frieze. This is a famous sculpture from the Parthenon temple. She also took amazing photos of the sculptures from the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.

Where Her Photos Are Kept

The original negatives of her photographs are kept in two places. They are at the American School of Classical Studies and at Princeton University.