Munch P.A.

P.A. Munch (1810-1863), Norwegian historian, considered the founder of the Norwegian school of history, author of the eight-volume History of the Norwegian People (1851-1863) and editor of Old Norse poetry, saga and mythology. He was one of the first non-Catholics to be allowed access to the Vatican archives, an important source for his research.

Kestner August

August Kestner (1777-1853), German diplomat and art collector who practiced as a lawyer in Hanover before becoming, in 1818, an official envoy and minister resident in Rome where he spent much of his life. He co-founded and later directed what was to become the German Archaeological Institute in Rome. His antiquities collection is in the…

Ǻkerblad Johan David

Johan David Ǻkerblad (1763-1819), Swedish orientalist and interpreter in the Swedish diplomatic service who then switched to philological research, settling in Rome in 1809. Speaking fluently Greek, Turkish, Arabic and Persian, he worked on deciphering the Rosetta Stone in 1801-02 while posted to Paris. Nevertheless his scholarly output was small. He died alone, neglected by…