Edith Hamilton, a renowned educator, was born in Dresden, Germany, to American parents, and later raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her fascination with Greek and Roman literature began at a very young age. After earning her Master's degree from Bryn Mawr College in 1894, Hamilton spent the next two years at the prestigious German universities of Leipzig and Munich, becoming the first woman to attend classes there.
Following her time in Germany, Hamilton returned to the United States in late 1896 and played a pivotal role in establishing the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland, a prestigious prep school. She was appointed headmistress and remained in that position for an impressive 26 years, retiring in 1922.
Post-retirement, Hamilton dedicated herself to her studies and writings on classical literature. Her inaugural book, "The Greek Way", published in 1930, was a compilation of her articles and other writings on Greek literature. She went on to author numerous books on both Greek and Roman literature, all of which received widespread critical acclaim and commercial success.
In addition to her classical literature works, Hamilton also penned books on Israel during the time of Christ. Her love for Greek literature was so profound that she even visited Greece in 1957 at the age of 90, an accomplishment that earned her the esteemed title of honorary citizen of Athens by the Greek government.
Edith Hamilton's remarkable life came to a close on May 31, 1963, in Washington, DC, leaving behind a legacy of scholarship and a profound impact on the world of classical literature.
