When and where was Georges Dumézil born?
Georges Dumézil was born in Paris on the 4th of March 1898. His father Jean Dumézil served as a highly educated general in the French Army.
Questions about Georges Dumézil
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the trifunctional hypothesis proposed by Georges Dumézil?
The model proposed that ancient Indo-European societies were hierarchically divided into three classes. Priests maintained cosmic and juridical sovereignty while warriors exercised physical prowess. Commoners promoted physical well-being fertility and wealth.
Why did the Vichy government fire Georges Dumézil from his teaching position?
Because he had joined Freemasonry as a young man the pro-Nazi Vichy government fired him in early 1941. Colleagues intervened successfully allowing him to regain his position by fall 1943.
Which university did Georges Dumézil attend after World War I ended?
After the armistice Dumézil returned to École normale supérieure in 1919. There he met Antoine Meillet who would become his most important teacher.
How many books did Georges Dumézil publish during his career?
Throughout his career he published more than seventy-five books and hundreds of articles. His research continues influencing Indo-Europeanists classicists Celticists Germanicists and Indologists.