Jean-Pierre Vernant (1914–2007)

Jean-Pierre Vernant was born in 1914 in Provins and is a teacher of philosophy. He was the director of studies in the college of further education from 1957 to 1975. He was also the founder (1964) and director, until 1985, of the centre for comparative research into ancient societies. He is considered one of the foremost specialists of ancient Greek history. Since 1984 he has been an honorary professor of the Collège de France where he was awarded the chair of comparative ancient religions from 1975 to 1984. He has been awarded the Médaille d’Or by the CNRS, is Commander of the Legion of Honour, Grand Officier in l’Ordre du Mérite and has received le Croix de Guerre for his active role in the French Resistance under the pseudonyme of Colonel Berthier.