Association "Dr. Maria Reiche - Lines and Figures of the Nasca Culture/Peru"

Youth

In Peru

The Lines

Working at the Pampa

Nasca

Protection for the desert

Maria Reiche-Grosse was born on May 15th, 1903 in Dresden as the first child of the councillor of the magistrates' court Dr. Felix Reiche-Grosse and his wife Elisabeth. She spent her childhood with her younger sister Renate and brother Franz at the Zittauer street. Here began her early interest for natural scientific observations. With 13 years Maria went to a school, which is today the “Romain-Rolland” high school. Later she thought thankfully back to her school years: "My old teachers, by the heaven, would never forgive me, if I would forget this time. The result of my today’s work belongs to the basis of this education ...".

In 1922 Maria Reiche enrolled at the Dresden University of Technology. Two semesters she studied in Hamburg. After four years studying (1928) she took the examination for post grammar school in the subject’s mathematics, physics, philosophy, pedagogy and geography. It followed unsteady years. Maria got again and again only temporary works. Besides the National Socialism started to become established in Germany. So came the “employment wanted” advertisement of the German consul in Cuzco just in time. He was looking for a house teacher. She applied and was chosen out of 80 applicants. In the February 1932 she went full of expectation to Peru.