Guérin, Victor°
GUÉRIN, VICTOR°
GUÉRIN, VICTOR ° (1821–1891), French explorer of the Near East. Guérin was professor of rhetoric at various French universities and finally at Paris. In 1852 he traveled extensively in Greece, Egypt, Tunisia, and Ereẓ Israel. His works include a seven-volume Description géographique, historique et archéologique de la Palestine (1869–80), containing three volumes on Judea and two each on Samaria and Galilee. Guérin's work combines historical information (especially from the church fathers and crusader authors) with topographical descriptions; although his work preceded the age of scientific archaeology, he noted many monuments which have since disappeared. He also wrote La Terre sainte, son histoire, ses souvenirs (2 vols., 1881–83) and Jérusalem, son histoire, sa description, ses établissements religieux (1889).
[Michael Avi-Yonah]