Biography Albert Luyken

Albert ist a member of the board of the Family Association.

He loves archaeology and has worked in Tell El Amarna (Egypt), Tunisia, Masada (Israel) and at the Kalkriese (Germany).

Excerpt from a letter from Albert on 1.8.2007:

I studied economy and plantation (because of the colonies) but also history and philosophy in Amsterdam, Erlangen, Marburg, London, Münster, Harvard and also egyptology in Tübingen with Helmut Brunner (an apprentice of Adolf Erman).

I worked at excavations in Tell Amarna where Echnaton resided, the first monotheistic mass. Also in Tunisia and in Masada, Israel under Yigael Yadin. His father, Prof. Sukenik, bought the first Qumram rolls from a herder. Masada fell 72 after a long siege by the best artillery legion under Flavius Silva (Legio 10 Gemina pia fidelis) that later was here with us in Xanten. Much is known about it because Joseph ben Mathias, the later Flavius Josephus, 37 - 100 interviewed there several surviving women. His work has been handed down in Latin. He reports thouroughly on John the Baptist but no word on Jesus. Monks have cheated a piece on Jesus into his work in the third century, so exaggerated that as a student I wondered about it. The problem is called Testimonium Flavium in the church.

Else I also have worked at excavations in Tunisia and at 76 also at the Kalkriese near Bramsche. There the fight of Varus really took place on 09 09 09 120 km from the monument to Hermann. Hermann-Arminius was a Roman citizen amd Roman officer and betrayed his protector Quinctilius Varus on a mean way. Germanicus and Caecina visited the site soon after, buried the bones and erected a monument. We found stapled burials with bones of humans and mules mixed. The Germans had built special ploughing fields (Plaggen) on the edge of the moor which is still there and strengthened them with poles and the Romans supposedly didn't notice them!!.

Links Albert Luyken

Internal links
• Birth announcement, family bulletin 1923, page 136 (German)
• Christening announcement, family bulletin 1924, page 169 (German)
• Short biography, family bulletin 1962, page 460 (German)