Description
Specialist in ancient art of Crete, Rome, and the near East, in particular the art of seals. Matz was the nephew of archaeologist Friedrich Matz (1843-1874, q.v.), and was often referred to as “der Jünger” (the younger). The younger Matz began his career as teacher at the Grauen Kloster gymnasium (advanced high school) in Berlin, 1914-1925. During these years he assisted in editing with Eugen Mercklin volume two of the printed catalog of the deutsches Archäologisches Institut library begun by August Mau (q.v.). In 1928, Matz published an ground-breaking text on the seals of Crete, Diefrühkretischen Siegel. He joined the University at Münster in 1934, remaining there until 1941 when he moved to Marburg University (1941-1958). As a compromise candidate, was elected Rektor of Marburg in the difficult postwar years 1946-47. He was the editorship of the Corpus der antiken Sarkophagreliefs and was the founder of the Archaeologica Homerica and Corpus der minoischen und mykenischen Siegel. Matz was also a specialist in Roman art and in later years and assumed the editor of Die Römischen Sarkophagreliefs from Carl Robert (q.v.). He published a four-volume set on sarchophgi containing Bacchanal motifs. His students included Bernard Andreae (q.v.).
