Petros Themelis was born in 1936 in Thessaloniki and he completed his undergraduate studies at the elementary and high school levels in the Experimental School of the University of Thessaloniki.
He received his BD in History and Archaeology from the University of Thessaloniki and then, in 1972, he received his PhD from the Archaeological Institute of the University of Munich with his thesis on “Frühgriechische Grabbauten” (“Early Greek Funerary Monuments”). His thesis was published by the Zabern Verlag publishing house in Mainz in 1976.
He carried out excavations in the aforementioned areas with prominent among them those in Akovitika of Messinia (1969), Epitalio in Ileia (1966-1968), Kallio in Fokida (1976-1980) and Eretria (1974-1985).
Professor Petros Themelis with members of the Melbourne's Papaflessas Social Club. Source: Supplied
In 1986 the Archaeological Society at Athens assigned the excavations at ancient Messenia to Professor Petros Themelis. The work of the excavations and restorations in ancient Messene which continues until today.
Petros Themelis has published over two hundred scientific treatises, related to issues of architecture, sculpture, topography, iconography, religious and funerary customs, as well as numerous reports of excavations in the Archaeological Bulletin and the Minutes of the Archaeological Society.
He has written and is still writing many articles on various topics that appear in daily newspapers and magazines. In 2011, some of his colleagues from Greece and abroad dedicated to him two honorary volumes titled “Travelling in Classical Greece.”
He is an honorary citizen of the cities of Messina and Androussa.
Professor Petros Themelis. Source: Supplied
In 2005 he was awarded the golden Taxiarch of the Order of Phoenix medal by the President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Stephanopoulos for his teaching, scientific and excavation work.
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