Sidney Smith (29 August 1889 – 12 June 1979) was an Assyriologist (both a linguist and archeologist) who has been described as the architect of Mesopotamian studies.[1][2]
He was born in Leeds, 29 August 1889, studied in City of London School, and went to Queens' College, Cambridge on a Classical Exhibition. During WWI he served as a subaltern in an infantry battalion. In 1955 he retired to Barcombe, near Lewes in Sussex.
Smith was married to Mary (née Parker) (born 1904), the daughter of his cousin Henry Wilfred Parker,[3] in 1927.[4] Together they had one son, Harry Smith, an Egyptologist and academic, and one daughter.[3]
Work
His life's work focussed on Semitic philology, political geography and Mesopotamian archaeology. He was appointed to the British Museum in 1914, but took up his post in 1919, eventually becoming the Keeper of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities (1931–48). He was active in teaching, being a lecturer in Accadian Assyriology (1924–38) at King's College, London. This overlapped with appointments at the new Institute of Archaeology (University of London) from 1934.[5][6]
He was the Director of Antiquities and Director of the Iraq Museum (1926–31). While there, he and his wife befriended Smith's colleague Max Mallowan and his wife, the novelist Agatha Christie, [4] with Christie dedicating her novel The Moving Finger (1942) "To my Friends Sydney and Mary Smith".[4]
He retired from British Museum on grounds of ill-health in 1948, but then immediately took up the Chair of Ancient Semitic Languages and Civilization at University College London.
… for him to be intellectually wrong was to be morally wrong. That made him a difficult colleague but a most stimulating teacher
Smith, S. (1924). Babylonian historical texts relating to the capture and downfall of Babylon. London: Methuen.
Smith, S. (1940). Alalakh and Chronology. London: Luzac.
References
^Wiseman, D.J. (1980). "Sidney Smith, 1889–1979". Proceedings of the British Academy. 66. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
^D. J. W. (7 August 2014). "Professor Emeritus Sidney Smith, Litt.D., F.B.A." Iraq. 41 (2): i–ii. doi:10.1017/S0021088900005015.
^ abc"Smith, Sidney, (1889–12 June 1979)". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U159720.
^ abc"Mary Winifrid Smith: an artist lost in Mesopotamia". Art UK. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
^Maxwell-Hyslop, Rachel (22 November 1999). "Some personal reminiscences of the Institute of Archaeology, 1933-62". Archaeology International. 3: 6. doi:10.5334/ai.0304.
^"Assyriology at the British Museum: Dr. Sidney Smith, F.B.A". Nature. 162 (4121): 645. 1 October 1948. Bibcode:1948Natur.162R.645.. doi:10.1038/162645b0. ISSN 1476-4687.
^Mallowan, Max (1977). Mallowan's memoirs. London: Collins. pp. 304–5. ISBN0002165066.
sidney, smith, assyriologist, sidney, smith, august, 1889, june, 1979, assyriologist, both, linguist, archeologist, been, described, architect, mesopotamian, studies, contents, life, work, selected, publications, referenceslife, edithe, born, leeds, august, 18. Sidney Smith 29 August 1889 12 June 1979 was an Assyriologist both a linguist and archeologist who has been described as the architect of Mesopotamian studies 1 2 Contents 1 Life 2 Work 3 Selected publications 4 ReferencesLife EditHe was born in Leeds 29 August 1889 studied in City of London School and went to Queens College Cambridge on a Classical Exhibition During WWI he served as a subaltern in an infantry battalion In 1955 he retired to Barcombe near Lewes in Sussex Smith was married to Mary nee Parker born 1904 the daughter of his cousin Henry Wilfred Parker 3 in 1927 4 Together they had one son Harry Smith an Egyptologist and academic and one daughter 3 Work EditHis life s work focussed on Semitic philology political geography and Mesopotamian archaeology He was appointed to the British Museum in 1914 but took up his post in 1919 eventually becoming the Keeper of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities 1931 48 He was active in teaching being a lecturer in Accadian Assyriology 1924 38 at King s College London This overlapped with appointments at the new Institute of Archaeology University of London from 1934 5 6 He was the Director of Antiquities and Director of the Iraq Museum 1926 31 While there he and his wife befriended Smith s colleague Max Mallowan and his wife the novelist Agatha Christie 4 with Christie dedicating her novel The Moving Finger 1942 To my Friends Sydney and Mary Smith 4 His was work was recognised when he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1941 3 He retired from British Museum on grounds of ill health in 1948 but then immediately took up the Chair of Ancient Semitic Languages and Civilization at University College London for him to be intellectually wrong was to be morally wrong That made him a difficult colleague but a most stimulating teacher Mallowan Mallowan s memoirs 7 Selected publications EditSmith S 1924 Babylonian historical texts relating to the capture and downfall of Babylon London Methuen Smith S 1940 Alalakh and Chronology London Luzac References Edit Wiseman D J 1980 Sidney Smith 1889 1979 Proceedings of the British Academy 66 Retrieved 12 April 2016 D J W 7 August 2014 Professor Emeritus Sidney Smith Litt D F B A Iraq 41 2 i ii doi 10 1017 S0021088900005015 a b c Smith Sidney 1889 12 June 1979 Who Was Who Oxford University Press 1 December 2007 doi 10 1093 ww 9780199540884 013 U159720 a b c Mary Winifrid Smith an artist lost in Mesopotamia Art UK Retrieved 2 March 2020 Maxwell Hyslop Rachel 22 November 1999 Some personal reminiscences of the Institute of Archaeology 1933 62 Archaeology International 3 6 doi 10 5334 ai 0304 Assyriology at the British Museum Dr Sidney Smith F B A Nature 162 4121 645 1 October 1948 Bibcode 1948Natur 162R 645 doi 10 1038 162645b0 ISSN 1476 4687 Mallowan Max 1977 Mallowan s memoirs London Collins pp 304 5 ISBN 0002165066 Cultural officesPreceded byHenry Hall Keeper of the Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities British Museum1931 1948 Succeeded byC J Gadd Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sidney Smith Assyriologist amp oldid 1136115291, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
