Johannes Adolph Overbeck (27 March 1826 – 8 November 1895) was a German archaeologist and art historian.

He was son-in-law to zoologist Georg August Goldfuss (1782-1848), and was father-in-law to anthropologist Emil Ludwig Schmidt (1837-1906).

This tended to give his writings a dry flavor, which even his comprehensive marshalling and organization of materials could not really overcome.

Carl Schurz has noted that "it has been said that [Overbeck] wrote the best book that has ever been written on Herculaneum and Pompeii, without ever having seen either spot."

He sought to improve the life of students in other ways as well, by establishing a reading room and infirmary.