Born on July 20, 1902 in Montpellier. Died on January 11, 1986.
Education and professional career
- 1908-1919: Student at Montpellier high school
- 1919-1921: Lycée Louis Le Grand
- 1920: Licencié ès Lettres (Sorbonne)
- 1921-1924: Student at the Ecole Normale Supérieure
- 1922: Degree in philosophy: Certificates in psychology, ethics and sociology
- 1923: Diploma of Advanced Studies
- 1924: Agrégé de l'Université, philosophy
- 1924-1925: Travels around the world
- 1925-1926: Second lieutenant in the 81st infantry regiment (Montpellie)
- 1926: Associate professor of philosophy at the Ecole Normale Supérieure
- 1926-1929: Boarder at the Fondation Thiers
- 1928: Graduate of the École Pratique des Hautes Études, Religious Studies Section
- 1928-1933: Secretary of the Association for the Encouragement of Greek Studies in France
- 1929-1972: Director of Studies at the École pratique des Hautes Études, Religious Studies Section ("Christian Literature and History of the Church", then "History of the Ancient Church and Patristics")
- 1929-1930: Léon Robin's deputy at the Faculté des Lettres de Paris: History of ancient philosophy
- 1930-1931: Lectures to students at the École normale supérieure who are candidates for the agrégation in philosophy
- 1931-1937: Co-founder and co-editor of Recherches philosophiques 6 tomes
- 1932: Explanation by Octave Hamelin to Sorbonne students taking the agrégation in philosophy
- 1934-1950: Secretary of the Religious Sciences Section of the École pratique des Hautes Études
- From 1934: Secretary, then co-director and director of the Revue de l'Histoire des Religions
- 1950-1965: Vice-president of the International Association for the study of History of Religions
- 1939-1940: Captain in the 12th Zouaves Regiment, then in the General Staff at Le Mans
- 1951-1962: President of the Religious Sciences Section of the École pratique des Hautes Études
- 1951-1952: President of the Association pour l'encouragement des Études grecques en France (Association for the encouragement of Greek studies in France)
- 1952-1972: Professor at the Collège de France, Chair of History of Religions