Christina Leypold

Dr. Christina Leypold is a Lecturer in Classical Archaeology and Managing Director of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Zurich. She has held these positions since 2016 and has established herself as a leading scholar in Greek archaeology, with a particular focus on the sanctuary of Olympia. Her academic career includes research and teaching positions at the University of Zurich and the University of Würzburg, where she completed her doctoral studies.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Classical Archaeology from the University of Würzburg (2006)
• Magister Artium with thesis on Greek temple architecture (1999)
• Studies in Classical Archaeology, Ancient History, and Art History at Tübingen, Athens, and Würzburg (1994-1999)
• Studies in monument preservation and building research in Bamberg (1999-2000)

Dr. Leypold's research centers on Greek sanctuaries, with special emphasis on Olympia, votive practices, and sanctuary architecture. Her work examines how statues were displayed in the Zeus sanctuary over centuries, analyzing their topographical context and the evolution of votive practices. She has conducted extensive fieldwork at Olympia, investigating statue bases, bathing facilities, and other architectural elements, which has led to significant insights into ancient Greek religious practices and spatial organization of sacred spaces. Her monograph 'Banquet Buildings in Greek Sanctuaries' established her expertise in sacred dining structures within Greek religious contexts.

Her publication record reveals consistent thematic focus on the spatial organization of Greek sanctuaries, particularly Olympia, with recurring investigations into votive practices, ritual purification through water installations, and the display of honorific and votive statues. Her research demonstrates how ancient Greek communities organized sacred space and how this organization evolved over time, reflecting changing social and political contexts from the Archaic through Hellenistic periods.

Dr. Leypold has received several prestigious awards and fellowships:

• CAS Leadership und Governance an Hochschulen (2020-2021)
• Marie Heim-Vögtlin Fellowship of the Swiss National Science Foundation (2012-2014)
• Dr. Meyer-Struckmann Scholarship Program for Humanities Scholars (2007)
• Travel Grant from the German Archaeological Institute (2008)
• Fellowship from the German National Academic Foundation for her PhD studies

As a supervisor, Dr. Leypold has mentored numerous students on her research projects, particularly the 'Statue Display in the Zeus Sanctuary at Olympia' project. She has secured funding from several prestigious sources including the German Archaeological Institute, the Dr. Meyer Struckmann Foundation, the Marie Heim-Vögtlin Foundation (SNSF), and the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Zurich. Her collaborative approach is evident in her numerous co-edited volumes and joint publications with scholars like Martin Mohr and Christian Russenberger. Dr. Leypold maintains active fieldwork connections at Olympia, with recent excavations in 2022-2023 focusing on statue bases.

Dr. Leypold is actively involved in several research teams and clusters, including Research Cluster 4 of the German Archaeological Institute on 'Sanctuaries' and the Zurich Center for Ancient Studies (ZAZH). Her work at Olympia is part of a long-term collaboration with the German Archaeological Institute, which has been excavating at the site since the 19th century. She is scheduled to be a Visiting Scholar at the University of Edinburgh's School of History, Classics, and Archaeology in January-February 2025, which will likely foster new collaborative research directions.