CELSIUS, OLOF (OLAUS). - Swedish Lutheran botanist and exegete, b. in 1670 and d. on 24 June 1756. He knew Arabic, which he used to determine the Hebrew names of plants. For the same purpose King Charles XI in 1696 had him travel at his own expense through the principal countries of Europe; he visited Germany, Holland, Italy, and Austria. Having returned to Sweden (1698), he taught
Greek, Oriental languages, and theology at the University of Uppsala; he was one of the first teachers of Linné, who gave the name of C. to a plant (Celsia).
He used his knowledge of natural history to explain Sacred Scripture. He first published dissertations, which he subsequently brought together in his principal work: Hierobotanicon (Uppsala 1745 and 1747, Amsterdam 1748). Other works by him: De lingua Novi Testamenti originali (Uppsala 1707); De synedrio iudaico (Stockholm 1709); De versionibus Bibliorum Snovo-Gothicis (ibid. 1717); De lotione manuum Iudaeis usitata (Uppsala 1717); De titulis Psalmorum (Stockholm 1718); De legibus Hebraeorum bellicis (Uppsala 1722); De templo Samaritanorum in Garizim (ibid. 1722).