Asked how to pronounce his name, Blegen told The Literary Digest: "Seeking the pagan is Doctor Blegen (blay'gen).

In 1923, Blegen proposed marriage to Elizabeth Denny Pierce (1888–1966), whom he had met in the American School of Classical Studies in Athens; Pierce initially accepted but then broke off the engagement as she did not wish to end her long-term relationship with Ida Thallon.
A plan was formed by Blegen, Pierce, and Bert Hodge Hill (who appears to have had unreciprocated romantic feelings for Blegen) that Hodge Hill and Thallon would marry at the same time as Pierce and Blegen, and the four would live together; Thallon agreed on condition that she and Pierce would continue to travel and spend time together away from their husbands, and the two couples married and moved in together in Athens in 1924, in a relationship which they referred to as "the Family", "the quartet", and "the Pro Par" (short for "Professional Partnership").

Carl Blegen died in Athens, Greece on 24 August 1971 at the age of 84.
He is buried in the Protestant corner of the First Cemetery of Athens, together with Elizabeth Pierce Blegen.
The graves of Ida Thallon and Bert Hodge Hill are also located in the corner.
Carl W. Blegen bequeathed a large collection of his documents to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
Asked how to pronounce his name, Blegen told The Literary Digest: "Seeking the pagan is Doctor Blegen (blay'gen).
In 1923, Blegen proposed marriage to Elizabeth Denny Pierce (1888–1966), whom he had met in the American School of Classical Studies in Athens; Pierce initially accepted but then broke off the engagement as she did not wish to end her long-term relationship with Ida Thallon. A plan was formed by Blegen, Pierce, and Bert Hodge Hill (who appears to have had unreciprocated romantic feelings for Blegen) that Hodge Hill and Thallon would marry at the same time as Pierce and Blegen, and the four would live together; Thallon agreed on condition that she and Pierce would continue to travel and spend time together away from their husbands, and the two couples married and moved in together in Athens in 1924, in a relationship which they referred to as "the Family", "the quartet", and "the Pro Par" (short for "Professional Partnership").
Carl Blegen died in Athens, Greece on 24 August 1971 at the age of 84. He is buried in the Protestant corner of the First Cemetery of Athens, together with Elizabeth Pierce Blegen. The graves of Ida Thallon and Bert Hodge Hill are also located in the corner. Carl W. Blegen bequeathed a large collection of his documents to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
Carl Blegen