Jesse Benedict Carter

Born in New York City on June 16, 1872, he studied at New York University, Princeton University, and the University of Halle, where he trained in classical scholarship. He went on to become a professor of Latin at Princeton and later moved to Rome, where his work brought him close to the physical and religious world of the ancient city.

His scholarship centered on Roman religion and topography. He wrote books including The Religious Life of Ancient Rome and collaborated on studies of the Roman Forum, helping readers connect archaeological places with the beliefs and daily life behind them.

He became a leading figure at the American School of Classical Studies in Rome and later at the American Academy in Rome, serving as director there. He died on July 20, 1917, in Cervignano del Friuli, Italy, after suffering heatstroke while on a wartime aid mission, and he was later buried in Rome’s Protestant Cemetery.