Johann Bollig

Distinguished Orientalist, born near Düren in Rhenish Prussia 23 August, 1821; died at Rome in 1895. He studied theology and Semitic languages at Rome, where he entered the Society of Jesus in 1853. In 1862-63 he sojourned in Syria as professor of theology for the native seminaries, at the same time pursuing his researches in Oriental literature. After his return to Rome, he was appointed professor of Arabic and Sanskrit at the Roman College (afterwards the Gregorian University) and at the Sapienza. he was a member of the commission appointed by Pius IX to arrange the details of the Vatican Council and acted as pontifical theologian during the Council for many years he was consultor of the Congregation of the Propaganda for Oriental affairs. In 1880, he was appointed Prefect of the Vatican Library, which office he held until his death. Among his published works are: “Brevis Chrestomathia arabica” (Rome, 1882); “Sti. Gregorii lib. carm. iambic., ” am ancient Syriac translation (Beruit, 1895). He left many unpublished writings on oriental philology.