SIR ALAN HENDERSON GARDINER

Born 29/3/1879 - Died 19/12/1963

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He died from a stroke in his 85th year, but had been sick for some time before this. The picture above was taken when he was 70, and still in good health. At that time (1949) he had the following distinctions, offices and affiliations:

D.Litt., F.B.A.

Hon. Fellow of the Queen's College, Oxford

Vice-President of the EES,

Hon. Member of the Danish and Bavarian Academies of Science,

Corresponding Member of the Berlin Academy of Sciences, The American Philosophical Society, and L'Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres,

Membre Associe de L'institut D'egypte.

An early enthusiast of ancient egyptian history and language, he came under the influence of Wallis Budge (Keeper of the Dept. of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities, British Museum) at the age of 15. He went on to study under Gaston Maspero in the Sorbonne, and then went to Oxford. He had published several articles before the age of 20, and later was one of the founding scholars of the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology (JEA). His steady stream of publications brought recognition from Germany, and he was invited to be a sub-editor of the Worterbuch, where he met Erman and K. Sethe.

He was appointed as Reader in Egyptology at Manchester University (1914-18) but did not like teaching, and never again took up a teaching post. He was able to continue his academic pursuits (at his home in Holland Park) because he was fortunate to come from a wealthy family. From his home, he gave weekly classes in egyptian to those whom he thought would benefit (R.O. Faulkner was one such student).

Later, as editor of the JEA, he took Battiscombe Gunn as his assistant. Gunn was a brilliant young scholar and their discussions spurred them on to produce some of the most important works in modern egyptology: Gardiner his "Egyptian Grammar" and Gunn his "Studies in Egyptian Syntax". Unfortunately Gunn devoted his later years to teaching and published relatively little.

Gardiner maintained a busy schedule and went on to publish numerous papers, acted in most capacities of the EES (Chairman, Vice-President, President), and helped many aspiring egyptologists. His most important monument is his 'Egyptian Grammar' and remains famous amongst egyptologists throughout the english-speaking world.

 

Sources:

Obituary by R.O. Faulkner in JEA (1964) 50:170-172;

Editorial Foreword, JEA (1949) 35