Austen Henry Layard
A Victorian adventurer-archaeologist who unearthed the colossal stone guardians of Assyria, bringing the world of the Bible into the British Museum.
1817–1894 (age 77)·English archaeologist and politician·Birthday: March 5
Biography
Austen Henry Layard was not a trained scholar but a restless traveler with a keen eye and formidable energy. While journeying overland to Ceylon, he became fascinated by the mysterious mounds near Mosul. With limited funds and local excavation methods, he began digging at Nimrud in 1845, striking archaeological gold almost immediately. He uncovered the vast palace complexes of Assyrian kings, sending back ship-loads of monumental sculptures—winged bulls, lion-hunt reliefs, and cuneiform tablets—that filled the British Museum and captivated the public. His best-selling books made him a celebrity. Later, he entered politics and diplomacy, serving as an MP and ambassador to Constantinople. Layard’s work, though sometimes rough by modern standards, fundamentally reshaped European understanding of ancient Middle Eastern civilization.
#1 When Austen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1817
Austen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1817Born
1822Started school
1830Became a teenager
1833Could drive
1835Could vote
1838Turned 21
1847Turned 30
1857Turned 40
1867Turned 50
President: Andrew Johnson
1877Turned 60
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1887Turned 70
President: Grover Cleveland
1894Died at 77
President: Grover Cleveland
Key Achievements
- Led the first major excavations of the Assyrian capital Nimrud, uncovering the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II.
- Discovered the vast library of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal at Nineveh, a priceless collection of cuneiform texts.
- Published the highly popular and influential account 'Nineveh and Its Remains' in 1849.
Did You Know?
He initially trained as a lawyer but abandoned the profession to travel across the Ottoman Empire.
Many of the colossal Assyrian lamassu (winged bull statues) he discovered were transported down the Tigris River on rafts.
He served as the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1877 to 1880.
“The workmen, excited to the utmost, carried the earth away in baskets, and hurried off with them, singing and shouting, as I had never before seen them do.”
