Renowned Ancient Corinth Archeologist Charles Williams Dies

Professor Charles K. Williams II, who devoted much of his life to excavating and studying ancient Corinth, has died aged 96.

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens (ASCSA) announced his death, expressing its sorrow and offering condolences to his family, friends and, in particular, his colleagues from the Corinth Excavations.

Williams served as Director of the Corinth Excavations from 1966 to 1997 and later as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. He remained actively involved with the institution for 64 years.

A prominent philhellene and generous philanthropist, Williams had also recently become an honorary citizen of Corinth.

He first arrived at the American School in Athens in 1962 as a Student Associate Member. He subsequently received the Corinth Excavations Fellowship in 1963–64 and the Gorham Phillips Stevens Fellowship from 1964 to 1966.

His relationship with the School continued until only a few months before his death. At the time, he was working on a publication examining Corinth’s Roman wall paintings and their historical context, according to the School.

Decades of work in Corinth

During his 31 years as director of the Corinth Excavations, Williams explored almost every part of the vast and complex archaeological site, covering periods from the Iron Age through the late Frankish period.

Each autumn, he led School students on educational trips through Corinthia and Argolis. In spring, he provided specialised training in excavation techniques.

His teaching extended beyond future field archaeologists. He also trained classical philologists and ancient historians to help them understand and assess archaeological evidence.

At the same time, Williams welcomed established researchers from around the world who travelled to Corinth to conduct their studies.

According to the ASCSA, Williams became the principal, though almost always anonymous, benefactor of the Corinth Excavations.

He secured a major bequest for the excavation programme, funded scholarships for dozens of students and researchers, and donated the three buildings at the excavation headquarters. As a trained architect, he designed the buildings himself.

More recently, he funded two state-of-the-art buildings to serve as storage facilities and laboratories. Thousands of fragments of Roman wall paintings excavated by Williams decades earlier are now conserved and reconstructed there.

Leadership at the American School

Williams also took a strong interest in the wider operation of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

He joined its Board of Trustees in 1997 and served as president from 2002 to 2011. As chair of the General Planning Committee from 2007 to 2012, he led the renovation and expansion of the School’s facilities in Athens.

The School’s Alumni Association recognised his contribution to the institution and its students with its Excellence Award in 2016.

Williams was known as a modest man who avoided unnecessary publicity. The School’s community regarded him as an iconic figure and as one of its most distinguished scholars, teachers and benefactors.

The statement was signed by William T. Loomis, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Kathleen M. Lynch, Chair of the Managing Committee; Bonna D. Wescoat, Director of the School; and George T. Orfanakos, Executive Director.

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