Adam Olearius
Adam Olearius was a German scholar and traveler born in the late 1590s to a tailor. He pursued his education at the Stephaneum gymnasium and the University of Leipzig, where he initially focused on theology but soon shifted his interests to philosophy, mathematics, and science, particularly astronomy. After earning his degree in 1627, he became a teacher and later took on the role of assistant director at the Nicolai School, during which he published works related to astronomy. In 1632, he transitioned to a role that involved overseeing students in rented accommodations.
Olearius's career took a significant turn when he was appointed as secretary to a delegation aiming to establish a trade route to Persia and Russia. This six-year expedition was fraught with challenges, including illness and shipwrecks, and ultimately did not achieve its intended goals. Upon his return in 1639, he was appointed court mathematician and married Catharina Müller, with whom he had four children. Olearius is particularly known for his memoirs documenting his travels, published in 1647, which included illustrations of various sights. His contributions extended to serving as court librarian, where he enhanced a notable collection, earning him recognition in Northern Europe for his scholarly work and impactful writings on his Eastern travels.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Adam Olearius
Writer
- Born: August 15, 1599
- Birthplace: Aschersleben in Anhalt, Germany
- Died: February 22, 1671
Biography
Adam Olearius was born in Germany in the late 1590’s. The son of a tailor, Olearius attended the Stephaneum gymnasian, and then the University of Leipzig, where he initially studied theology. Soon Olearius found himself pursuing philosophy, mathematics, and science, with a particular interest in astronomy. Olearius earned his degree in 1627. He then began working as a teacher, and in 1630 was appointed the assistant director of the Nicolai School, where he taught Latin and mathematics. During this period, Olearius published several pieces dealing with astronomy, including 1630’s Kurtze Erinnerung und Bericht, von der grossen und erschrecklichen Sonnen-Finsterni� (short reminder and report on the great and terrible eclipse of the sun).
In 1632, Olearius left teaching to supervise students living in rented rooms, which included looking after their academic process. After a year, Olearius was invited to act as secretary to a group of dignitaries attempting to negotiate a new trade route involving Persia and Russia. What followed was an often disastrous six-year journey involving illness, shipwrecks, and treasonous behavior by certain diplomats.
Olearius returned to Germany in 1639. His journey of six years unfortunately did not yield the hoped-for results, but Olearius was still rewarded for his efforts. He was named court mathematician, and that same year married Catharina Müller, the daughter of a senator. Together they had three sons and a daughter. Olearius published his memoirs of his long diplomatic journey in 1647, which he titled Offt begehrte Beschreibung der Newen Orientalischen Reise, so durch Gelegenheit einer Holsteinischen Legation an den König in Persien geschehen (often desired description of the recent Oriental journey that occurred on the occasion of a Holstein legation to the king of Persia). The volume featured Olearius’s drawings of various sights from the journey.
In 1649, Olearius was named court librarian, and he devoted a great deal of his time to organizing the large collection and adding important volumes to the shelves, which quickly led to the library being considered one of the best in Northern Europe. Olearius earned himself further court appointments and published a second edition of his travels through Russia and Persia. Olearius continued to advance at court and write, edit, and translate. He is best remembered for his popular and engaging memoirs of his travels to the East.