Jurji Zaydan

Jurji Zaydan, in arabic script جورجي زيدان also translitterated Jorge or Jirjî Zaydan or Zaydân, etc. was a Christian Arab journalist and father of Pan-Arabism. He was born in 1861 in Beyrouth and died in 1914.

After having studied medicine and pharmacy, he leaves his native Lebanon (then part of the Ottoman Empire) for Egypt, where he becomes editor of the journal الزمان (Azamman). He also worked as a translator. In 1892 he founds the periodical «الهلال » (al-Hilâl) which he will head for over 20 years until his death in 1914.

Being interested in both modern science and the arabic language, he played an important role in the Nahda, the revival of arabic culture and civilization.

His works have also been translated into several european languages.