A true philhellene and fluent speaker of Greek, American professor and archaeologist Stephen G. Miller, has passed away at age 79.
Miller devoted more than thirty years of his life to the excavations of the archaeological site of Ancient Nemea in the northeastern Peloponnese from 1973.
In 1996 he revived the Nemea Games and worked tirelessly to fundraise for and promote Nemea, where he was responsible for the reconstruction of the temple of Zeus and the building of its museum.
Born in 1942, Miller taught at UC Berkeley (1973-2004) and was a director of the American School of Classical Studies (1982-1987).
He had numerous publications to his name in a career that spanned over four decades, and was made an honorary Greek for his contributions to Greek culture. He had also been the recipient of the Order of Honor decoration by the president of Greece.
Condolences were sent by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who said Miller had "loved deeply the people and culture of modern Greece, and by Culture Minister Lina Mendoni called him "an outstanding, devoted scientist and a great friend of Greece."
Messages were also sent by Deputy Development & Investments Minister Christos Dimas, US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt, Greek party leaders, and others.
In a tweet, President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou said on Wednesday, "We say goodbye to professor of archaeology Stephen Miller, an distinguished scientist who loved our country, lived in it for many years, and was dedicated to the promotion of ancient Greek civilization. The excavation and reconstruction of Ancient Nemea was his life's work. We are deeply grateful to him."
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