ERPENIITS (Latinized from Thomas van Erpen), one of the earliest and most emi nent of European orientalists, was b. at Gorkum, in Holland, 7th Sept., 1584. At an early age, he was sent to Leyden, where he directed his attention first to theology. but afterwards more particularly to the study of oriental languages. Having completed his educational course, he traveled through England, France, Italy, and Germany; and in 1613, became professor of oriental languages at Leyden. Here he erected, an Arabic press in his own house, caused new types to be cut, and not only wrote but printed a great number of important works bearing on his favorite studies. The professorship of Hebrew not being vacant at the time of E.'s translation to the university of Leyden, a second Hebrew chair was founded expressly for him in 1619. Soon after this he was appointed oriental interpreter to the government, in which capacity he read and wrote replies to all official documents coming from the east. Such was the elegance and purity of his Arabic, as written at this time, that it is said to have excited the admira tion of the emperor of Morocco. Towards the close of his life, tempting offers of
honors and distinction came pouring in upon him from all parts of Europe; but he was never prevailed upon to leave his native country, where, in the midst of an eminent career, he died 13th Nov., 1624. Although the present standard of oriental knowledge in Europe is much in advance of that of E.'s day, there is no doubt that it was through him principally that eastern, especially Arabic studies have become what they are. "With hardly any better material than a few awkwardly printed Arabic alphabets, he contrived to write his famous grammar (Grammatica Arabica, guinque libris methodiee explicate, Leyden, 1613; recent edition by Michaelis, GOtt. 1771), which for 200 years, till the time of Silvestre de Sacy, enjoyed an undisputed supremacy; and there are many who think his Rudimenta unsurpassed, even at the present day, as a work for beginners. Among his other important works the best known is his Proverbiorum Arabieorues Centurue Duce (Leyden, 1614).