House of Heinrich Schliemann 1890

Themistocles von Eckenbrecher created this drawing of the House of Heinrich Schliemann, using graphite, pen, and gray ink. It depicts Schliemann's mansion, built in Athens in the late 19th century. Schliemann was a self-made millionaire, driven by a childhood fascination with Homer’s Iliad, and the idea that it reflected historical events. He dedicated his life and fortune to uncovering the city of Troy. This endeavor played out against the backdrop of European colonialism, and the rise of archaeology as a tool of nation-building and cultural authority. The image presents a grand, neoclassical structure adorned with classical statues. The architecture, reminiscent of ancient Greek temples, echoes Schliemann’s obsession. Yet it also raises questions about cultural appropriation and the complicated legacy of archaeology. It prompts us to consider whose stories are told, and who gets to tell them. How might we view Schliemann's work through a decolonizing lens?