Karl Purgold (28 December 1850, in Gotha – 25 June 1939, in Gotha) was a German classical archaeologist and museum director.
In 1878 he received his doctorate from the University of Munich, where he was a student of Heinrich Brunn.
Following graduation, he travelled the Mediterranean region by way of a grant from the German Archaeological Institute (1878–80).
[1] From 1890 until his retirement in 1934 he was director of the Ducal Museum Gotha, only the second-ever holder of that post.
[2] He took part in the excavations at Olympia, Greece, being tasked with providing analysis of ancient inscriptions.