UGOLINI, BIAGIO. - Hebraist, born in Venezia around 1700. His life is almost entirely unknown. He was a converted Jew, who accomplished a very useful work for the knowledge of Judaic antiquities.
The Thesaurus antiquitatum sacrarum complectens selectissima clarissimorum virorum opuscula, in quibus veterum Hebraeorum mores, leges, instituta, ritus sacri et civiles illustrantur, published in Venezia (1741–69), comprises 34 folio volumes. Treatises written by somewhat earlier authors are interspersed with rabbinic texts. Its chief merit lies in having collected pamphlets scarcely accessible in their original editions and in having made available to Christians a considerable number of rabbinic treatises with a clear Latin translation. Among the Christian authors are, among others, Bochart, Bonfrère, Buxtorf, Carpzov, Sigonio, Deyling, Lowth, and Reland. Quite a few essays are by U. himself. The first 4 volumes contain treatises of a rather general nature; the following ones deal with the geography, priesthood, Temple, rites, sects, numismatics, customs, poetry, music, etc., of the Jews.
This excellent compendium of Judaic antiquities attests to extraordinary industriousness and great interest in exegesis, even if legends or haggadic narratives are often accepted and overvalued.