John Romer

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John Romer, British Egyptologist and TV archaeologist
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John Romer, British Egyptologist and TV archaeologist

Born in 1941 in Surrey, John Romer is a noted British Egyptologist, historian and archaeologist, who has created and appeared in many acclaimed TV archaeology series, including BC: Archaeology of the Bible Lands, Byzantium and Great Excavations. Along with Michael Wood, he is probably the best known television archaeologist and presenter of ancient history. His trademark style combines gentle humour, expertise and respect for ancient peoples and he is perhaps best known for his Indiana Jones-style large sun hat.

Romer came to archaeology through his epigraphic studies of painting and drawing at the Royal College of Art in London before working as an artist in Persepolis in Iran, and Cairo, Egypt, drawing and studying ancient inscriptions.

He began his archaeological work in 1966 by participating in the University of Chicago’s survey at the ancient Egyptian site of Thebes (modern-day Luxor).

In 1979, John Romer and his wife, Elizabeth Romer, an archaeologist and designer, founded The Theban Foundation, in Berkeley, California, a body dedicated to the conservation and documentation of the royal tombs of Thebes, which led to the creation of the Theban Mapping Project.

Romer's books (some co-written with his wife Elizabeth Romer) include Valley of the Kings, Ancient Lives, Testament and The Seven Wonders of the World, many of which were televised. He lives in Tuscany, Italy.

[edit] External links

[edit] Works

  • John Romer. Damage in the Royal Tombs in the Valley of the King. private. An archaeology autobiography
  • John Romer. Valley of the Kings. Henry Holt and Company: New York, NY, 1981. ISBN 0-8050-0993-0.
  • John Romer. Romer’s Egypt. Michael O’Mara Books Limited: London, 1993. ISBN 0-7181-2136-8.
  • John Romer. The Rape of Tutankhamun. Michael Joseph/Rainbird: London, 1982. ISBN 1-8547-9169-9.
  • John Romer (with Elizabeth Romer). Great Excavations: John Romer’s History of Archaeology. Cassell: London, June 2000. ISBN 0-3043-5563-1.