The Editorial Board and editorial board of the journal "Bulletin of Ancient History", numerous Russian Orientalists (and, of course, first of all Egyptologists) cordially congratulate Jean Leclan (born August 6, 1920), Permanent Secretary of the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres, Honorary Professor of the Collège de France, one of the most famous artists of the world. the most outstanding scientists and scientific figures in France and a wonderful person.

The subjects of his numerous works are mainly related to three complex historical disciplines-Egyptology, meroistics and historical geography of the African continent. Within each of the listed disciplines, Academician Zh. Leclan has long and rightfully acquired the status of classical, as for meroistics, he is considered one of the founders of this historical direction as such.

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Works by Zh. Leclans (the total number of which has exceeded 1000) have gained great popularity not only among specialists, but also among the general public. For example, on the recommendation of A. Malraux and A. Parrault, among other things, he was entrusted with the scientific management of three famous volumes of "L'universe des formes" devoted to the history of Egypt.

Being a first-class archaeologist, ethnographer, epigraphist, academician Zh. Lek-lan has successfully led and continues to lead many complex expeditions in Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia. To this day, every winter he studies the texts of the pyramids in Saqqara, preparing a grandiose consolidated edition of versions of the Texts of the pyramids - one of the most important monuments of ancient Egyptian writing.

The most important aspect of Zh. Leclane is a publishing activity. Since 1948, he has published an annual summary of all the work and discoveries that have taken place in the Nile Valley. Published for almost half a century in the magazine Orientalia (Rome), this ongoing colossal review - catalog ("Fouilles et travaux en Egypte et au Sudan") is an exemplary and therefore highly valued publication by professionals. In addition, J. Leclan was the founder and co-director of the most important periodical "Annales d'ethiopie" (1952-1972), as well as the founder and director of "Meroitic Newsletter" (from 1962 to the present).

J. Leclan also acts as a brilliant propagandist and popularizer of science; he is the author of numerous programs on historical topics on radio and television; he has repeatedly acted as general director of the most famous exhibitions of ancient Egyptian and ancient Nubian values in the Rodin Museum, Petit Palais in Paris, etc.

A huge range of scientific interests, colossal erudition, brilliant talent as a researcher and amazing efficiency of Zh. Leclan was made a figure of special significance not only in French, but also in the entire European academic science. He is an honorary professor of a number of universities: Strasbourg, Sorbonne, Khartoum; Honorary Doctor of the Catholic University of Louvain and the University of Bologna; member of the Egyptian Institute in Cairo, member of the German and Austrian Archaeological Institutes; corresponding member of the Lynch Academy (Rome), the British and Vienna Academies; academician of the Royal Academies of Denmark, Sweden and Belgium, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. and Romanian Academies, etc. Currently, he is also Honorary Secretary General of the International Association of Egyptologists, President of the Nubian Research Society, member of the International Council of the Republic of Djibouti, and President of the French Commission for Culture at UNESCO.

Merits of Academician Zh. Leclan's contribution to science and society was recognized by a number of honorary awards in France: the Legion of Honor, the Order of Merit, the Order of Military Valor, etc.

In 1994, Academician J. Leclan was elected a foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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