Authority and How to Attain It: Pausanias, Description of Greece and Archaeological Excavations at Olympia

This study reveals the dynamic interplay between archaeological fieldwork and textual authority, demonstrating how Pausanias' Description of Greece shaped classical archaeology. Unlike canonical works, Pausanias' authority was not inherited but built through fieldwork confirmations and refutations in Greece's landscape. His descriptions influenced major discoveries, such as Schliemann’s Mycenae excavations, and even impacted Greek toponymy post-independence. At Olympia, long-term excavations deepened understanding of Pausanias’ work while simultaneously evolving archaeological practices and epistemological foundations. The research underscores the inseparable link between practical fieldwork and interpretive study in archaeology.

V. Mihajlović, V. (2019). Authority and How to Attain It: Pausanias, Description of Greece and Archaeological Excavations at Olympia. Issues in Ethnology and Anthropology, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.21301/eap.v14i3.9