Jean-Pierre Vernant

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(February 2013)

Jean-Pierre Vernant

Vernant at his last conference, October 23, 2006 (Aubervilliers) Born January 4, 1914 Provins, France January 9, 2007 (aged 93) Svres, France anthropologist, historian

Died Occupation

Jean-Pierre Vernant (January 4, 1914 January 9, 2007) was a French historian and anthropologist, specialist in ancient Greece. Influenced by Claude Lvi-Strauss, Vernant developed a structuralist approach to Greek myth, tragedy, and society which would itself be influential among classical scholars. He was an honorary professor at the Collge de France.

Contents

1 Biography 2 Influence 3 Awards

3.1 Awards and prizes 3.2 Doctor Honoris Causa 3.3 Other awards 4 Select publications 5 External links 6 References

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Biography
Born in Provins, France, Vernant at first studied philosophy, receiving his agrgation in this field in 1937. A member of the Young Communists (Jeunes Communistes), Vernant joined the French Resistance during World War II and was a member of Libration-sud (founded by Emmanuel d'Astier). He later commanded the French Interior Forces (FFI) in HauteGaronne under the pseudonym of "Colonel Berthier." He was a Companion of the Liberation. After the war, he remained a member of the French Communist Party until 1969. He entered the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) in 1948 and, under the influence of Louis Gernet, turned to the study of ancient Greek anthropology. Ten years later, he became director of studies at the cole des hautes tudes en sciences sociales (EHESS). In 1971 he was professor in the University of So Paulo.[1] This visit was also an act of protest that he made with Franois Chtelet against the brazilian military government (dictatorship). He was a member of the French sponsorship committee for the Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. He supported the funding organisation Non-Violence XXI. He was awarded the CNRS gold medal in 1984. In 2002, he received an honorary doctorate at the University of Crete. Vernant died a few days after his 93rd birthday in Svres. After his death, his name was given to a French highschool in Svres, le "Lycee Jean-Pierre Vernant".

Influence
The structuralist approach pioneered by Vernant has been influential on a wide range of classical scholars. More specifically, Vernant's reading of the myth of Prometheus was an important influence on philosopher Bernard Stiegler's book, Technics and Time, 1: The Fault of Epimetheus.

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