BECKER

becker, wilhelm adolf (1796-1846), german classical archaeologist, was born at dresden. at first destined for a commercial life, he was in 1812 sent to the celebrated school at pforta. in 1816 he entered the university of leipzig, where he studied under beck and hermann. after holding subordinate posts at zerbst and meissen, he was in 1842 appointed professor of archaeology at leipzig. he died at meissen on the 30th of september 1846. the works by which becker is most widely known are the _gallus_ or _romische scenen aus der zeit augusts_ (1838, new ed. by goll, 1880-1882), and the _charicles_ or _bilder altgriechischer sitte_, (1840, new ed. by goll, 1877-1878). these two books, which have been translated into english by frederick metcalfe, contain a very interesting description of the everyday life of the ancient greeks and romans, in the form of a romance. the notes and appendixes are valuable. more important is the great _handbuch der rom. alterthumer_ (1843-1868), completed after becker's death by marquardt and mommsen. becker's treatises _de comicis romanorum fabulis_ (1837), _de romae veteris muris atque portis_ (1842), _die romische topographie in rom_ (1844), and _zur romischen topographie_ (1845) may also be mentioned.