IN THE SHADOW OF THE PROTAGONISTS. THE MINOR HEROES OF CRETAN ARCHAEOLOGY DURING THE INTERWAR PERIOD

In the long history of Cretan archaeology, many archaeologists served in the Archaeological Service of Crete. Not unexpectedly, relevant historiographical studies focus on the Ephors, who by law retained the privilege of excavations and of publications.

Nevertheless, behind these brilliant men there were the Antiquities Curators, who had been sent to serve at the Cretan Ephorate as state mobility programs demanded, and who were charged with a variety of official tasks and duties, yet without enjoying the same rights and privileges as those of the Ephors.

Next to the Curators there were the “Temporary Curators”, mostly schoolteachers, who, in return for a meager extra salary, took on the archaeological administration of entire regions.

The aim of the present paper is to shed light on these men who worked away in the shadow of the Ephors and who silently contributed, often in a most constructive way, to the history of Cretan archaeology during the interwar period.