UGOLINI, Biagio. - Hebraist, born in Venice c. 1700. Almost nothing is known of his life. He was a converted Jew who produced a work of great value for the knowledge of Jewish antiquities.
The *Thesaurus antiquitatum sacrarum complectens selectissimam clarissimorum virorum opuscola, in quibus veterum Hebraeorum mores, leges, instituta, ritus sacri et civiles illustrantur*, published in Venice (1744–69), comprises 34 volumes in-folio. Between treatises written by authors of the preceding generation are interspersed rabbinic texts. Its chief merit lies in having gathered essays that were difficult to access in their original editions and in having provided Christians with numerous rabbinic treatises accompanied by clear Latin translations. Among the Christian authors represented are, among others, Bochart, Bonfrère, Buxtorf, Carpzov, Sigonio, Deyling, Lowth, and Reland. Not a few essays are by U. himself. The first four volumes contain treatises of a rather general nature; the following volumes deal with the geography, priesthood, Temple, rites, sects, numismatics, customs, poetry, music, etc., of the Jews.
This excellent repertory of Jewish antiquities bears witness to extraordinary industry and a keen interest in exegesis, even though it often includes and overvalues legendary or haggadic tales.