Valerios Stais

Stais initially studied medicine but later switched to archaeology, obtaining his Doctorate from the University of Halle (Saale) in 1885.^[1] He worked for the National Archaeological Museum of Athens beginning in 1887. During his tenure, he became Director of the Museum, a post he held until his death. During that period he organized or participated in excavations in Epidaurus, Argolis, Attica, Dimini, Antikythera and elsewhere.^[3] He wrote a lot on archaeological matters, published several papers, mainly in Archeologiki Efimeris (Αρχαιολογική Εφημερίς, 'Archaeological Newspaper'^[4]), and many books.

Valerios Stais also became the first to study the Antikythera mechanism from the lumps of archaeological material retrieved from a wreck found near the coast of Antikythera in 1900.^[5] He identified that one of the pieces had a gear wheel embedded in it.