Sixtinus Amama

Sixtinus Amama (also Sextinus) (13 October 1593–9 November 1629) was a Dutch Reformed theologian and orientalist. Amama was among the first to advocate a thorough knowledge of the original languages of the Bible as indispensable to theologians.

Contents

Life

He was born on in Franeker, in the Dutch province of Friesland. He studied oriental languages from 1610 at the University of Franeker and then at the University of Oxford, attracted there by John Prideaux.[1] In 1614 he took up also the study of Arabic at the University of Leyden where he made the acquaintance of Thomas Erpenius.

In 1616 he became professor at Franeker in literature and oriental languages. Subsequently, however, he was suspected of Arianism, and underwent an investigation by Lubbert Sibrand and Johann Brogermann. When Erpenius died in 1625, Amama was called to take his place, however the Estates of Friesland refused permission for him to leave, but did increase his remuneration.

He died in Franeker.

Works

Family

He married Meine van Adelen van Cronenburg; the natural philosopher Nicolaus ab Amama was their son.[2]

References

Notes

  1. ^ Hegarty, A. J., "Prideaux, John", on the website of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Subscription or UK public library membership required), http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/22785 
  2. ^ Wiep van Bunge et al. (editors), The Dictionary of Seventeenth and Eighteenth-Century Dutch Philosophers (2003), Thoemmes Press (two volumes), article Amama, Nicolaus ab, p. 19–22.