  The photoproduction of 2$\pi^0$ mesons off protons was studied with the
Crystal Barrel/TAPS experiment at the electron accelerator ELSA in Bonn. The
energy of photons produced in a radiator was tagged in the energy range from
600\,MeV to 2.5\,GeV. Differential and total cross sections and $p\pi^0\pi^0$
Dalitz plots are presented. Part of the data was taken with a diamond radiator
producing linearly polarized photons, and beam asymmetries were derived.
Properties of nucleon and $\Delta$ resonances contributing to the $p\pi^0\pi^0$
final state were determined within the BnGa partial wave analysis. The data
presented here allow us to determine branching ratios of nucleon and $\Delta$
resonances for their decays into $p\pi^0\pi^0$ via several intermediate states.
Most prominent are decays proceeding via $\Delta(1232)\pi$, $N(1440)1/2^+\pi$,
$N(1520)3/2^-\pi$, $N(1680)5/2^+\pi$, but also $pf_0(500)$, $pf_0(980)$, and
$pf_2(1270)$ contribute to the reaction.
