Charles Lenormant

Charles Lenormant ( born June 1, 1802 in Paris, † November 22, 1859 in Athens ) was a French archaeologist and Egyptologist.

Lenormant initially studied law, then devoted himself to archaeological studies and toured with Jean -François Champollion in 1828 Egypt, 1829, he participated in the French Morea expedition. After his return he became in 1830 Head of Beaux Arts in Ministry of Education, then curator at the Bibliothèque de l' Arsenal, since 1832 at the Bibliothèque National, especially at the Cabinet des Médailles. 1840 to 1859 he headed the Cabinet. 1835 to 1846 he was professor of history at the Sorbonne. From the chair he had to resign due to its stressed Catholicism on the initiative of the students. In 1849 he became Professor of Egyptian language and archeology at the Collège de France. He was a corresponding member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences since 1839, member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and since 1845 on a proposal Theodor Panofkas and August Boeckh. He worked closely with Jean- Joseph -Antoine -Marie de Witte.

In 1826 he married the daughter of Julie Recamier, which he opened the way to Paris society. Her son was the archaeologist François Lenormant. His tomb is located on the Kolonoshügel in Athens.

Writings

• With P. Delaroche, H. Dupont: Trésor de numismatique et de glyptique (Paris 1834-1850, 20 volumes)
• Introduction à l' histoire orientale (1838 )
• Musée des antiquités Egyptiennes (1835-1842)
• Jean -Joseph -Antoine -Marie de Witte: Élite des monuments céramographiques (1837-1861, 4 volumes)
• Questions historiques (1845, 2 volumes, 2nd edition 1854)