Renowned Greek archaeologist and academic Georgios S. Korres passed away on Monday at the age of 85. His name was linked with the excavations at Pylos, Messinia, which he directed from 1973 onwards.
Korres was born in 1940. His roots lay on the island of Naxos. His father, Stylianos, was a professor of Ancient Greek Philology and rector of the University of Athens.
From 1958 to 1963 Georgios Korres completed his studies at the Department of History and Archaeology of the School of Philosophy at the University of Athens. From 1963 to 1965, he continued his studies in archaeology at the University of Bonn. In 1966, he started his academic career in the field of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Athens. He was corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute and the Academy of Gothenburg and a full member of the Leibniz Academy in Berlin.
His archaeological work focused on the region of Messinia in southern Greece, where he excavated numerous sites, such as Koukkounara, Kaminia Krymmidion, Tragana, Peristeria, Voidokoilia etc. From 1974 onwards he headed the excavations at Pylos. His publication work includes his doctoral dissertation on ram’s head helmets and extensive publications in both Greek and international scientific journals.
In recognition of his exceptional contribution to archaeology, Korres was awarded the Heinrich Schliemann Medal, the prestigious Winckelmann Medal, as well as the Order of Merit from the German government.
