ZINGERLE, PIUS. - Benedictine orientalist (born Giacomo), scholar of Oriental literature and translator of Christian Iriac poetry, b. at Merano on 16 March 1801, d. at Marienberg on 10 January 1881.
He entered the Benedictines at Marienberg with his friend Beda Weber in 1820. At first he devoted himself to pastoral care, later taking up a teaching post at the Benedictine Gymnasium in Merano, of which he subsequently 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 serving as consultant to the Congregation of Propaganda. He was also *scritor* at the Vatican Library and later reader at the abbey of Marienberg. He was appointed to membership in several academies and associations for Oriental studies. He was a great linguist, especially a profound connoisseur of the Syriac language.
Among his publications are: *Ausgewählte Schriften des hl. Ephrem*, 6 vols. (Innsbruck 1830-37; 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); *Harfenklänge aus dem Libanon* (ibid. 1840).