George DennisCMG (21 July 1814 in Ash Grove, Hackney, Middlesex – 15 November 1898 in South Kensington, London) was a British explorer of Etruria; his written account and drawings of the ancient places and monuments of the Etruscan civilization combined with his summary of the ancient sources is among the first of the modern era and remains an indispensable reference in Etruscan studies.
George Dennis left school at the age of 15. He never went to college, and yet he interested himself in languages, studying ancient Greek and Latin on his own and eventually becoming a polyglot in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, modern Greek, Turkish and some Arabic. A strongly physical man as well, he often went for 40-mile hikes in the uplands of Scotland and Wales. He resolved to become an explorer; however, he worked mainly alone.[1]
Solitary Exploreredit
At age 22 Dennis conducted his first explorations in Portugal and Spain, writing his first work, A Summer in Andalucia, in 1839. Dennis roughed it in Etruria between 1842, at age 28, and 1847, in the company of artist Samuel Ainsley in three separate trips from 1842 to 1844.[2] Etruria of the times had reverted to a semi-wilderness state, rural, depopulated, malarial and infested with bandits. There were few roads. Dennis hiked about the country living in the outdoors or in rural quarters infested with insects studying and recording the monuments he found and any traditions about them.
The result of his travels was his 1,085-page treatise Cities and cemeteries of Etruria, published in 1848 by the British Museum and including sketches by Dennis and Ainsley. Dennis captures Etruscan civilization and Tuscan landscapes in able prose with scholarly detail. It was nevertheless generally unknown and unappreciated by the British public, partly because of Dennis' lack of academic credentials. He did make some fast friends among the academics who read his work, such as Austen Henry Layard.
Colonial officeredit
As his book did not receive the recognition and remuneration it deserves, George used his contacts to obtain work with the Colonial Service, which shipped him off to British Guiana. He married there but he found life dreary. After 14 years he asked his friend Austen Henry Layard to mediate with Lord John Russell to get him out of Guiana. The ploy was successful and in 1863, at age 50, Dennis went as vice-consul to Sicily, subsequently to Benghazi and Smyrna in Turkey, accompanied by his wife. He had no children.
Recognitionedit
Meanwhile, his magnum opus became widely read and was appreciated for the masterpiece it is. Oxford University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law for it. He was made a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. His lack of a formal education was a stigma that prevented higher honours. He endured shallow reviews and comments for the rest of his life.
Endedit
George Dennis died alone in London at age 84 officially of "senile decay". At some time before his death, the second and third editions of his work had come out.
Notesedit
^Wellard dedicates Chapter Four, The Founder of English Etruscology, to Dennis. This material comes from there.
^Ridgway, David (2015). "Ainsley, Samuel James". In De Grummond, Nancy Thomson (ed.). Encyclopedia of the History of Classical Archaeology. Routledge. p. 14. ISBN9781134268542.
Bibliographyedit
Dennis, George (1839). A Summer in Andalucia. London: R. Bentley. Two volumes. A rare book.
Dennis, George (1883). The Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria, Third Edition. London: John Murray. Two volumes. Downloadable from Google Books at [1].
Potter, Timothy W. "Dennis of Etruria: a celebration", Antiquity 72 (1998), 916–21. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00087585
Rhodes, Dennis E. Article in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
Rhodes, Dennis E. (1973). Dennis of Etruria. London: Cecil & Amelia Rhodes.
Wellar, James (1973). The Search for the Etruscans. New York: Saturday Review Press. ISBN0-8415-0231-5.
External linksedit
Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria, complete, at LacusCurtius
May 03, 2024
george, dennis, explorer, george, dennis, july, 1814, grove, hackney, middlesex, november, 1898, south, kensington, london, british, explorer, etruria, written, account, drawings, ancient, places, monuments, etruscan, civilization, combined, with, summary, anc. George Dennis CMG 21 July 1814 in Ash Grove Hackney Middlesex 15 November 1898 in South Kensington London was a British explorer of Etruria his written account and drawings of the ancient places and monuments of the Etruscan civilization combined with his summary of the ancient sources is among the first of the modern era and remains an indispensable reference in Etruscan studies Contents 1 Early life 2 Solitary Explorer 3 Colonial officer 4 Recognition 5 End 6 Notes 7 Bibliography 8 External linksEarly life editGeorge Dennis left school at the age of 15 He never went to college and yet he interested himself in languages studying ancient Greek and Latin on his own and eventually becoming a polyglot in French Spanish Portuguese Italian modern Greek Turkish and some Arabic A strongly physical man as well he often went for 40 mile hikes in the uplands of Scotland and Wales He resolved to become an explorer however he worked mainly alone 1 Solitary Explorer editAt age 22 Dennis conducted his first explorations in Portugal and Spain writing his first work A Summer in Andalucia in 1839 Dennis roughed it in Etruria between 1842 at age 28 and 1847 in the company of artist Samuel Ainsley in three separate trips from 1842 to 1844 2 Etruria of the times had reverted to a semi wilderness state rural depopulated malarial and infested with bandits There were few roads Dennis hiked about the country living in the outdoors or in rural quarters infested with insects studying and recording the monuments he found and any traditions about them The result of his travels was his 1 085 page treatise Cities and cemeteries of Etruria published in 1848 by the British Museum and including sketches by Dennis and Ainsley Dennis captures Etruscan civilization and Tuscan landscapes in able prose with scholarly detail It was nevertheless generally unknown and unappreciated by the British public partly because of Dennis lack of academic credentials He did make some fast friends among the academics who read his work such as Austen Henry Layard Colonial officer editAs his book did not receive the recognition and remuneration it deserves George used his contacts to obtain work with the Colonial Service which shipped him off to British Guiana He married there but he found life dreary After 14 years he asked his friend Austen Henry Layard to mediate with Lord John Russell to get him out of Guiana The ploy was successful and in 1863 at age 50 Dennis went as vice consul to Sicily subsequently to Benghazi and Smyrna in Turkey accompanied by his wife He had no children Recognition editMeanwhile his magnum opus became widely read and was appreciated for the masterpiece it is Oxford University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law for it He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George His lack of a formal education was a stigma that prevented higher honours He endured shallow reviews and comments for the rest of his life End editGeorge Dennis died alone in London at age 84 officially of senile decay At some time before his death the second and third editions of his work had come out Notes edit Wellard dedicates Chapter Four The Founder of English Etruscology to Dennis This material comes from there Ridgway David 2015 Ainsley Samuel James In De Grummond Nancy Thomson ed Encyclopedia of the History of Classical Archaeology Routledge p 14 ISBN 9781134268542 Bibliography editDennis George 1839 A Summer in Andalucia London R Bentley Two volumes A rare book Dennis George 1883 The Cities and Cemeteries of Etruria Third Edition London John Murray Two volumes Downloadable from Google Books at 1 Potter Timothy W Dennis of Etruria a celebration Antiquity 72 1998 916 21 doi 10 1017 S0003598X00087585 Rhodes Dennis E Article in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Rhodes Dennis E 1973 Dennis of Etruria London Cecil amp Amelia Rhodes Wellar James 1973 The Search for the Etruscans New York Saturday Review Press ISBN 0 8415 0231 5 External links editCities and Cemeteries of Etruria complete at LacusCurtius Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Dennis explorer amp oldid 1204409536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
