Emile Jules ESPERANDIEU
1857-1939
Born in the Gard, this former solider and alumnus of the St Cyr military school is one of the officers who participated actively in the development of epigraphy and archeology. In 1904, he oversaw the publication of the remarkable Recueil général des Bas-reliefs, Statues et Bustes de la Gaule Romaine (General Collection of Bas Reliefs, Statues, and Busts of Roman Gaul).
After 1918, he became the curator of the monuments and museums of Nîmes. He is the author of many publications, including Le musée lapidaire de Nîmes (The Nîmes Lapidary Museum) in 1924, The Maison Carrée in 1929, Le répertoire archéologique du Gard (Gard Archeology Repertory) in 1934, and The Nimes Amphitheater in 1933.
He was the president of the association of the Ecole Antique de Nîmes (Nîmes Antiquity School), and his great erudition and ability to make his knowledge understandable to everyone made him the ideal public speaker.
image © Roger Viollet
