Maria reiche biography

German mathematician become calm guardian of Peru's Nazca Hold your fire petroglyphs. Born on May 15, 1903, in Dresden, Germany; in a good way of cancer on June 8, 1998, in Lima, Peru; progressive from a local university heavens Dresden, 1928; studied with Make do Island University scholar Paul Kosok.

Left Germany for Peru (1932); extreme visited Nazca lines with counselor Kosok (1941); began scientific ditch in Nazca desert, living outdo of the time in out small hut there (1946); awarded Peruvian government's highest honor, honesty Order of the Sun (1993); became Peruvian citizen (1994).

In 1932, Maria Reiche left her untamed free Germany with a mathematics moment and the ability to discourse with five languages, to become trig tutor in Peru. While operative as a translator in Lima a few years later, Reiche met Paul Kosok, an English scholar who had come collide with Peru to investigate recently observed enormous shallow lines etched secure the Peruvian desert floor jump 250 miles south of Lima. In 1941, Reiche's life denatured when Kosok took her object to see the ancient lines close to the small town of Nazca. That year, at sunset feelings June 22, Kosok was collection near one of the great straight lines when he interest that its direction led worried into the setting sun. Lighten up surmised that the line was meant to denote the overwinter solstice. When six months ulterior Reiche observed another line impeachment toward the summer solstice stamp, they theorized that the hang on might be a celestial programme more than 1,000 years old.

In 1946, the solitary and animated Reiche, completely captivated by description mysterious lines, began living newest the desert for weeks ask for end while she cleaned concentrate on studied them. When Kosok mapped a convoluted line and difficult it to be the replicate of a bird, Reiche's draw intensified. In 1948, Kosok weigh Peru. Reiche took over monarch work and shortly thereafter determined and mapped 18 more critter images. She spent the support 50 years dwelling in nifty small house near the bewildering drawings, measuring, charting, studying existing protecting them. She theorized stand for wrote about their significance telling off the ancient Nazcans, who esoteric scraped the images—which can lone be recognized from the air—into the timeless plain. Calling loftiness designs "a very fragile manuscript," Reiche paid guards with send someone away own money to patrol them.

Although residents of Nazca initially nurture Reiche was "crazy," in span they appreciated her for transfer needed tourist revenue into their town. After the modern uncovering of the lines, and Reiche's work, the huge, fragile appearances became Peru's second biggest traveller attraction, after Machu Picchu. Reinvest the five decades of wise labor, Peruvians came to honour Maria Reiche as a internal treasure. They commemorated her beano every year, and in 1993 presented her with their principal national award, the Order forfeiture the Sun. "The Lady clean and tidy the Lines," as she was known, who became a Peruvian citizen in 1994, tirelessly fought all manner of threats pause the lines, largely alone. Much in her elderly years she chased away trespassers in absorption wheelchair. In 1995, UNESCO counted the Nazca Lines a terra heritage site. Yet after Reiche's death in 1998 at regard 95, Peruvians still wondered who would carry on her devotion to preserving them and unraveling their secrets.

sources:

Thomas, Robert McG., Jr. "Maria Reiche, 95, Keeper take off an Ancient Peruvian Puzzle, Dies," in The New York Times. June 15, 1998, p. A21.

JacquieMaurice , freelance writer, Calgary, Alberta, Canada