Magistris, Simone De

Magistris, Simone De, a noted Italian Orientalist, was born at Serra di Scopamene (Corse), Feb. 28, 1728; went to Rome while yet a youth, entered the congregation of the Oratory of St. Philippe of Neri, and soon made a name for himself by his unusual proficiency in the ancient languages. Popes Clement XIV and Pius VI employed him in the research of ecclesiastical antiquities; he was made bishop of Cyrene, in partibus, and secretary of the congregation for the correction of works by the Oriental Church. In this last position his vast erudition displayed itself to the advantage of the Church of Rome. He died Oct. 6,1802. He wrote Daniel secundum Septuaginta ex tetraplis Origenis, nunc primum editus (Greek and Latin, Rome, 1772, fol.). This text of Daniel, after the Sept., had been given up for lost. Magistris, finding it in the library of the prince of Chigi, added to it the Greek interpretation of Theodotius; also a part of the book of Esther in Chaldee, and five dissertations: — Acta Martyrum ad Ostia Tiberina, ex. codice regiae bibliotheae- Taurinensis (Rome, 1795, fol.): — S. Dyonisii Alexandrisii episcopi, coognomento Magni. Opera quae supersunt (Rome, 1776, fol.): — Gli Alti di cinque Martiri nelle Corea, coll origine dellc fide in quel reqno (Rome, 1801, 8vo). — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Gen. 32:706.