Walter Andrae (February 18, 1875 – July 28, 1956) was a German archaeologist and architect born near Leipzig.

Career

Archaeologist

Andrae initially studied architecture at the Dresden University of Technology, where he befriended a younger student, Julius Jordan, with a life-changing effect on him. In 1898, Andrae participated in an archaeological dig at Babylon under the leadership of Robert Koldewey (1855–1925). He played an influential role in the smuggling of the Ishtar Gate out of the country. From 1903 to 1914, he directed the excavation of the ancient Assyrian capital of Assur. During this time period, he also performed archaeological excavations at Hatra and Shuruppak. Another significant archaeological site that he was involved in was the Hittite city of Sam'al.

Museum curator and director

In 1921 Andrae became curator of the Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin, where from 1928 to 1951 he served as its director. Starting in 1923, he taught classes in architectural history at Technische Universität Berlin.

Published works

Among his better known writings were Der wiedererstandene Assur, and the autobiographical Lebenserinnerungen eines Ausgräbers (Memoirs of an excavator). Other publications by Andrae include: