June 13, 2008
Ana Tsimintia , Georgia Today

On June 12, 2008 the National Museum of Georgia Director David Lortkipanidze will be awarded by the president of Italy Giorgio Napolitano with a special prize from the scientific academy “Accademia dei Lincei” in Rome.

David Lortkipanisdze’s fourth international prize manifests his special achievement in the field of anthropology.

In 2007 Lortkipanidze became an honorable member of the Academy of Science of US, received a Rolex preemie and was awarded by the Prince of Monaco.

Founded in 1603 by Federico Cesi, Accademia dei Lincei, (literally the “Academy of the Lynxes”) was the first academy of sciences to persist in Italy, and a locus for the incipient scientific revolution. The academy was named after the lynx, an animal whose sharp vision symbolizes the observational prowess required by science. In 1871, the academy became its country’s official scientific academy.

At that time Cesi was eighteen, and the other founders of the academy only eight years older. They were all possessed of a fervent love of science, which was further inflamed by the renown of Galileo’s lectures and experiments. Their great desire was to see into the secrets of nature with a perception as acute as that of the lynx. Hence the arms and the name “Lincei” attached to their association. From the beginning, the life of the little group was difficult. The mystery with which the young men liked to surround their studies and the character of these studies (which was far from being in keeping with tradition in method and intent) aroused the suspicions of Cesi’s father and relatives. The group was forcedly separated, but their devotion to science never lessened.

In 1930 after making some significant moves to develop the academy despite the complications raised around the group, the leader of the academy Cesi passed away and the academy stopped functioning almost instantly, although other members put a lot of effort to keep the academy.

Later the academy was reestablished for bit under a different name, but for a short duration of time.

Finally, after the downfall of the Fascist government in July 1943, Benedetto Croce proposed the suppression of the Accademia d’Italia and the re-forming of the Accademia dei Lincei. This measure could not be put into effect because of the Armistice (September 8, 1943) and the consequent occupation of Italy by the German armies. However it was adopted after the liberation of Rome in 1944. In that year two decrees were passed, one concerning the reinstatement of the Accademia dei Lincei and the other the abolition of the Accademia d’Italia.

A commissary was appointed to carry out the necessary business, and a committee, headed by Benedetto Croce and composed of some Senior Members of the Accademia dei Lincei, was entrusted with the reformation of the scientific section. The president of the committee was entrusted with the management of the academy during the academic year 1945-46 and with extraordinary elections of new national members. From October 1946 the charter of 1920 came into force again and since then the academy has resumed all its normal activities.

With its long, storied history the “Academy of the Lynx” is one of the central scientific organizations in Europe, located in Rome, Italy.