ZINGERLE, PIUS. - Benedictine orientalist (Giacomo in secular life), scholar of Oriental literature and translator of Syriac Christian poetry, b. at Merano on 16 March 1801, d. at Marienberg on 10 Jan. 1881.
He entered the Benedictine Order at Marienberg with his friend Beda Weber in 1820. He initially devoted himself to the care of souls, subsequently assuming a chair at the Benedictine Gymnasium of Merano, of which he later became director. From 1862 to 1865 he was professor of Semitic languages, and in particular of Arabic, at the Sapienza in Rome, while at the same time holding the office of consultor to the Congregation of Propaganda. He was also a scriptor at the Vatican Library and later lector at the abbey of Marienberg. He was appointed a member of various academies and associations for Oriental studies. He was a great linguist, especially a profound connoisseur of the Syriac language.
Among other works, he published: Ausgewählte Schriften des hl. Ephrem, 6 vols. (Innsbruck 1850-37; 2nd ed. ibid. 1845-46); Bibliothek der Kirchenväter, 3 vols. (ibid. 1870-76); Echte Akten heiliger Märtyrer des Morgenlandes, 2 vols. (ibid. 1836); Monumenta Syriaca, I (ibid. 1869); Chrestomathia syriaca (Rome 1871); Lexicon Syriacum (ibid. 1873); Harfenklange aus dem Libanon (ibid. 1840).