The Crisler Library at
Ephesos

Hilke Thür

Hilke Thuer , from Hannover,Germany  has a masters degree in architecture from  Technical University, Munich and a PhD in Classical Archaeology from the University of Vienna. (1980).  Since 1991 a venia docendi from the University of Vienna provided  teaching opportunities in Graz, Salzburg and Vienna.  Her architectural skills were needed for work on a temple precinct near the ancient site of Caruntum in Austria.   Since 1975 she has been a member of the Ephesos Excavation team and from 1997 to 2005 was Assistant Director of the Ephesos excavations.  Her skills in architecture combined with archaeology led to work specifically with a number of research projects at the lower level of Curetes Street, center of the ancient site.  As such, she became deeply involved with a grave monument, called the Octogon which through her investigations became identified as the tomb of the youngest sister of the famous Cleopatra, named Arsinoe  IVth who was murdered in Ephesos in 41 B.C. For well over a decade her primary focus and dedicated interest  has been the research and publication of Houses 4 and 6 in Terrace Houses 2; all answering questions concerning domestic architecture.  She was employed from 1995 to 2006 at the Academy of Science in Vienna and since retirement is finishish her work with Terrace House 2 as well as the yet unpublished work, west of the Octagon, a memorial building from the late Hellenistic era.  She is a member of the Austrian and German Archaeological Institute and the Koldewey Gesellschaft.  Her principal monographs: “Das Hadrianstor in Ephesos” (FiE XI, 1 Wien 1989), “Hanghaus 2 in Ephesos: Die Wohneinheit 4” (FiE VIII, 6 Wien 2005) and “Hanghaus 2 in Ephesos; Die Woheninheit 6 (FiE VIII, 9 forthcoming).  She has written numerous articles on architecture, urban development and domestic architecture in Ephesos as well as edited related books.  Dr. thuer is presently Director of the Crisler Library in Ephesos International Archaeology Summer Session.