Editing Savitri Devi (section)

==Early years==
Born as Maximiani Julia Portas in 1905 in [[Lyon]], Savitri Devi was the daughter of Maxim Portas, a French citizen of [[Greeks|Greek]] and Italian descent and an English woman, Julia Portas (née Nash).{{sfn|Greer|2003|p=130}}{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1998|p=7}} From childhood and throughout her life, she was a passionate advocate for [[animal rights]]. Her earliest political affiliations were with [[Greek nationalism]].{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1998|p=8}} In her youth she was interested in German philosophy and Germany; she was disturbed by Germany's treatment at the end of [[World War I]] and by the treatment of Greek refugees simultaneously. She blamed the Jews for the defeat of Germany.{{sfn|Kaplan|2000|pp=91–92}}

Educated in Greece and France,{{sfn|Kaplan|2000|p=91}} Portas studied philosophy and chemistry, earning two [[master's degree]]s in philosophy and science and a [[PhD]] in chemistry from the [[University of Lyon]] based on her thesis {{Lang|fr|La simplicité mathématique}}.{{sfn|Greer|2003|p=130}}{{sfn|Kaplan|2000|p=91}} She next traveled to Greece, and surveyed the legendary ruins. Here, she became familiar with [[Heinrich Schliemann]]'s discovery of [[swastika]]s in [[Anatolia]]. Her conclusion was that the [[Ancient Greeks]] were [[Aryan race|Aryan]] in origin. Her first two books were her [[doctoral dissertation]]s: {{Lang|fr|Essai-critique sur Théophile Kaïris}} and {{Lang|fr|La simplicité mathématique}}.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

Influenced by her hatred of the Bible and later [[Zionist]] actions in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], she became [[antisemitic]] at a young age.{{sfn|Kaplan|2000|p=91}} In early 1928, Portas renounced her French citizenship and acquired [[Greek nationality law|Greek nationality]].{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1998|pp=19, 21}} In 1929 (a year of conflict between Arabs and Jews in the region) she joined a [[pilgrimage]] to [[Mandatory Palestine|The British Mandate of Palestine]] during [[Lent]], which reinforced her beliefs. Portas was also influenced in her antisemitism by various French intellectuals, with whom antisemitism was prolific; she was especially influenced by [[Ernest Renan]].{{sfn|Kaplan|2000|pp=91–92}}{{sfn|Goodrick-Clarke|1998|pp=19, 21}}