Franciscus Quaresmius

Francisco Quaresmio or Quaresmi (4 April 1583 – 25 October 1650), better known by his Latin name Franciscus Quaresmius, was an Italian writer and Orientalist.

For many years he held the chairs of philosophy, theology, and canon law, and became successively guardian, custos, and minister of his province.

His long apostolate in the East and the works he left secured his fame, especially among earlier historians, Biblical scholars, and Orientalists.

[1] Between 1616 and 1626 he wrote his work Elucidatio terræ Sanctæ, a contribution to history, geography, archæology, Biblical and moral science.

Meanwhile, he journeyed through Egypt and Sinai, the Holy Land, Syria, Mesopotamia, Cyprus, Rhodes, Constantinople, and a large part of Asia Minor; he also visited Germany, France, and the Low Countries.