Ziller, Ernst Moritz Theodor (called Moritx Theodor Ernestos) (1837–1923). German-born Greek architect. He studied with T. von Hansen (1858–9), who brought him to Athens to build the Academy of Sciences there (1861–4). Following travels in Italy and a further period of study in Vienna (1864–8), Ziller settled in Greece, was eventually naturalized, and became the most influential architect working in that country during the reign of King George I (1863–1913). One of his best buildings was Iliou Melathron (1878–80), the residence of Heinrich Schliemann (1822–90—the archaeologist and discoverer of Troy), which became the building of the Greek Supreme Court. Other works included the house of Pavlos Melas (1884–later the Post Office), the New Palace (1890–7), and the Royal (now National) Theatre (1895–1901), all in Athens. He also designed the Neo-Classical Town Hall, Ermoupolis, Syros (1876), several country-houses in a mixture of Bavarian Alpine vernacular and Neo-Classical architecture (e.g. the Summer Residence of King George, Tatoi (1870), and the Ziller Settlement, Kifasia (1909–13) ), and some Rundbogenstil ecclesiastical buildings (e.g. Hagia Triada, Piraeus (1915–16), and Hagios Athanasius, Pyrgos (1911) ). He designed numerous architectural details (columns, caryatids, etc.) which were manufactured in terracotta and were widely used throughout Greece. He contributed to archaeological discoveries in his adopted country (e.g. excavations of the Stadium (1869–70), and his work on the Theatre of Dionysos (1862), both in Athens), and was one of the most competent practitioners of his generation.

Bibliography

Middleton & Watkin (1987);
Russack (1942);
Jane Turner (1996);
Thieme & and Becker (1932)