Greece on Friday held a state funeral for Eleni Glykatzi-Ahrweiler, a leading historian of the Byzantine Empire and the first woman to serve as rector of Sorbonne University, who died Monday at age 99.
The service took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens in the presence of senior political leaders and academics. The funeral was held at public expense. Earlier, her body lay in state for public viewing.
In a eulogy, President Konstantinos Tassoulas praised her lifelong contribution to scholarship, saying she had entered “the eternity of universal Greeks” through her work. He described her as a historian who “wanted to confront history” and who rejected complacency, calling her a model of authenticity and intellectual freedom.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Ahrweiler’s nearly century-long life was marked by research, knowledge and public service. He said she followed “steep and difficult paths she never feared,” leaving a lasting legacy in culture and public life.
Ahrweiler was widely regarded as one of the most influential scholars of Byzantine studies and a pioneering figure for women in academia.
