Michał Gawlikowski

Michał Gawlikowski (born 28 April 1940 in Warsaw) - Polish archaeologist and epigraphist, Professor of Humanities.

Professional career

Professor Michał Gawlikowski is one of the most distinguished Polish archaeologists, he studied under the mentorship of Professor Kazimierz Michałowski.[1]

Archaeological research

He devoted most of his academic career to the study on Palmyra (now Tadmor, Syria). Between 1973 and 2009, he directed the Polish archaeological expedition to Palmyra on behalf of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw.[2] One of his most important discoveries was the temple of the goddess Allat (1975). A detailed architectural analysis of the temple and a study of the marble statue of Athena found there were published by him in 2017.[3] The expedition also uncovered the hypogea of Zabda and Alaine with tomb reliefs, the building of the principles, a complex of Christian basilicas, as well as several famous objects, including a bas-relief of a lion guarding the temple of Allat, currently on display in front of the National Museum of Damascus.[2]

In 1998, at the invitation of the Syrian Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums, he began rescue excavations in Hawarte (near Apamea, Hama province).[2] The original aim of the work was to secure the paintings uncovered there, covering the walls of a cave located under the floor of a 5th-century church. Professor Gawlikowski identified the cave as a mithraeum, i.e. a sanctuary of the Persian god of Mithras. He began a long-term archaeological and conservation project on behalf of the PCMA UW, which was completed in 2010.[4]

Between 2014 and 2019, he directed the Saudi-Polish Archaeological Expedition, which investigated a Roman trading post at the Aynuna site, identified as ancient Leuke Kome. The research was carried out in cooperation between the PCMA UW and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage.[5]

Awards

Positions and functions (selection)

  • Since 2023, permanent member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres[6][7]
  • Since 1966, editor-in-chief of the journal and publication series Studia Palmyreńskie [8]
  • 1990–2008, editor-in-chief of the annual Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean [9]
  • 1991–2005 Director of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw [10]
  • 1993–2000 Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Archaeology of the University of Warsaw
  • 1995–2000 Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Department of Mediterranean Archaeology of the Polish Academy of Sciences (currently the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences) [10]
  • 1989–1991 Director of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Warsaw (currently the Faculty of Archaeology) [7]

Publications (selection)

  • with Krystyna Gawlikowska and Przemysław Nowogórski: Palmyra. (Warszawa: Fundacja Przyjaciół Instytutu Archeologii UW: Instytut Archeologii UW, 2010).
  • with Chalid Al-As'ad: The inscriptions in the Museum of Palmyra: a catalogue. (Warsaw: Oficyna Wydawnicza "Kontrast", 1997).
  • with Zofia Sztetyłło: Zarys cywilizacji świata starożytnego. (Warszawa: Wydaw. Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego, 1986).
  • with Jean Starcky: Palmyre. (Paris: Librairie d'Amérique et d'Orient, 1985).
  • Sztuka Syrii. (Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe, 1976).

References

  1. ^ a b "Prof. Michał Gawlikowski with the Prof. Jan Zachwatowicz Award". PCMA UW website.
  2. ^ a b c "Palmyra".
  3. ^ "Le sanctuaire d'Allat à Palmyre. PAM Monograph Series 8 – PDF". WUW (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  4. ^ Wagner M., Zielińska D. (eds) "Hawarte. Last Masterpieces of Ancient Painters", Warsaw 2012
  5. ^ "Aynuna".
  6. ^ "GAWLIKOWSKI Michal". Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres (in French). Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  7. ^ a b "Michał Gawlikowski élu associé étranger à l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres | Institut français en Pologne". | Institut français en Pologne (in French). Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  8. ^ "Bazhum - Studia Palmyreńskie". bazhum.muzhp.pl. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  9. ^ "Publishers Panel". pam-journal.pl. Retrieved 2025-10-26.
  10. ^ a b "Nowa Nauka Polska". archiwum.nauka-polska.pl. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
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