Paul Herrmann

Paul Herrmann wrote the first general publication of the 1885-86 excavations at Polis tes Chrysochou, the site of ancient Marion: Das Graeberfeld von Marion auf Cypern, the 48th Winckelmannsprogramm of the Archaeological Society of Berlin, printed in 1888. It surveys the locality, classifies the tombs and describes their contents, with the figurines and decorated pottery, and gives attention to the finds that went to the Berlin Museum. The reviewer in the American Journal of Archaeology reports that Herrmann assigned earlier tombs to Marion and later ones to Arsinoe, and that proof for his supposed Phoenician layer of tombs is lacking³. H.-G. Buchholz cites the book for Max Ohnefalsch-Richter's 1886 work there, in which 441 graves were opened, and notes that Herrmann credited the digging to Ohnefalsch-Richter's "geschickter und bewaehrter Oberleitung"⁶.

Herrmann's account drew criticism from Munro and Tubbs, who in 1889-90 repeatedly took up his tomb classes, plans and dating of types and often disagreed with him⁴. City of Gold says that a review of Herrmann's publication by a member of the Cyprus Exploration Fund, together with a visit to Polis, sparked the Fund's interest in Marion⁷.

A Dr Paul Herrmann is named in Ohnefalsch-Richter's circular of 10 May 1910 from Limassol on the excavations at Rantidi, which is addressed to Dr Treu, director of the Albertinum in Dresden, and to his "Direktorial-Assistant" Dr Paul Herrmann⁵. No source says whether he is the author of the 1888 book. His dates are not recorded.