Benveniste should undoubtedly be considered as one of the most outstanding orientalists. His accuracy and innovative research in advancing Avesta studies are worth remembering. He had deep knowledge and rare persistence in scientific works. Emile Benveniste is a famous French orientalist. He was born in 1902 at the beginning of the 20th century and spent 74 years of his life with extensive scientific research. Benveniste excelled not only in Iranology but also in linguistics, and he was known as one of the prominent scholars in what is known as Indo-European studies. Still, many of his research achievements have retained their importance. In particular, Benveniste was superior to others in applying the correct and measured research method. The depth and accuracy of his studies was considered to be more than others, such as Anquetil Duperron, James Darmesteter, and Jean de Menasce. From this point of view, he had a more significant impact on Oriental studies.
Benveniste studied orientalism next to his teacher, Antoine Mayet. Mayet was one of the pioneers and founders of modern linguistics. Benveniste’s awareness of Mayet’s work was such that he published his master’s book by adding some writings. That book was called “Ancient Persian Grammar.” These and other scientific works of Benveniste made him succeed his professor Mayet at the Sorbonne University and obtain the chair of oriental studies in this famous university. Benoist taught Iranian languages at this university and other universities and introduced students to the historical grammar of Indo-European languages.
One of Benveniste’s study sections was the study of Iranian religions. Benveniste did vast studies about Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and the Zarvani myth. He also had a research attachment to the Avesta language and the surviving works of the Pahlavi language. Knowing the social classes of Iran in ancient times was one of the other parts of his career. His knowledge of Armenian and Sogdian languages was every effective in advancing his research.
The works left by Benveniste are all significant from the point of view of research and scientific findings from the predecessors’ texts. They are known as among the first-hand and excellent sources of Oriental studies. In the last years of his life, Benveniste fell ill and had to stop teaching and reduce his research work. By that time, nearly 600 articles and 18 books had been published by him. Among his most important works, we can mention these examples: “Avesta Sources,” “Moghs in Ancient Iran,” “Special Names in Ancient Iranian Languages,” “Sogdian Texts,” “Portrait and Vertharghana” and “Hittite Language.”
Émile Benveniste died in 1976.
