Adricomius, Christian Kruick van

ADRICOMIUS (Adrichomius, Latinized form of Adricitum), Christian Kruick van. - Dutch Palestinologist, b. at Delft on 14 Feb. 1533, d. at Cologne on 20 June 1585.

The humanist Martin Dorpius, his great-uncle, saw to his early education. Having been ordained to the priesthood (2 March 1561), A. was chaplain of the Sisters of St. Barbara at Delft. When his homeland was invaded by the Protestants, he took refuge in Brabant (at Antwerp, under the name Christianus Crucius, he published in 1578 a Vita I. Christi ex quatuor Evangelistis breviter contexta), and finally at Cologne.

His original work, still appreciated today, is the Theatrum Terrae Sanctae et biblicarum historiarum cum tabulis geographicis. The 1st part (geography of Palestine) and the 3rd (chronicle from the creation of the world to the death of St. John the Evangelist, placed in 109) were published posthumously (in fol., Cologne 1590), together with the 2nd part, of which A. had already overseen the printing (Jerusalem sicut Christi tempore floruit, ibid. 1584; reprints 1588, 1592). Much admired in its geographical part for the accuracy and the didactic effectiveness of the maps with figures (biblical vignettes from the Old and New Testaments ingeniously arranged in the various sites), the Theatrum* had many re-editions (Cologne 1593, 1600, 1613, 1628, 1682, 1722, etc.). The 2nd part was translated into Italian by Francesco Bardelli of Cortona (Florence 1594; reprinted by L. Grassi, Genoa 1882).