Johannes Rhellicanus
Johannes Müller (Latin: Johannes Rellicanus, also Rellikan or Rellikon, circa 1478-1488 - 14 January 1542) was a Swiss clergyman and theologian of the Reformation in Switzerland, philologist and philosopher, noted for his work in early modern botany.
Johannes Rhellicanus | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Gymnadenia rhellicani, named for Rhellicanus | |
| Born | 1478-1488 Rellikon, Swiss Confederation |
| Died | 1542 |
| Education | University of Krakow, University of Wittenberg |
| Occupation(s) | University lecturer, translator, pastor, botanist |
| Theological work | |
| Tradition or movement | Reformed, Zwinglian |
Rhellicanus first came to prominence as an apt pupil, and then teacher, of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. He studied at the Jagellonian University in Krakow (1517-22), and then at the University of Wittenberg (1522-5).[1]
In 1525, Rhellicanus became a teacher at St. George's Abbey, Stein am Rhein, near Zurich, where he taught Heinrich Bullinger during the latter's five-month stay in 1527 Zurich to study languages and attend the Prophezei; both were followers of Huldrych Zwingli.[1]
Rhellicanus was next appointed Professor of Greek and Philosophy at the new High School of Bern.On account of the Bern Debate of 1538, he returned to Zurich, where he was a teacher at the Latin school at Fraumünster. Later, in 1541 he became a pastor in Biel.[1]
Rhellicanus became a botanist in 1536 while visiting the Stockhorn mountain and immersing himself in nature there; he later a didactic poem about the trip, entitled Stockhornia, written in hexameter.[1][2]: 182 In this, he made the earliest known description of the dark vanilla orchid, which was later named Gymnadenia rhellicani in his honor.[3] Rhellicanus himself called the plant Christimanus (Latin: Christi manus, "Christ's hand").[4][5]: 222
Other works of Rhellicanus include an encomium of Johannes Oecolampadius composed in Greek,[6]: 93 and a translation into Latin from the Greek of the De Homero (On Homer) of Pseudo-Plutarch, which he entitles Homeri Vita, Ex Plutarcho ("The Life of Homer, From Plutarch")[7]
References
- Germann, Matrin (2012-04-01). "JohannesRhellicanus". Das Historische Lexikon der Schweiz (in German). Retrieved 2022-02-22.
- Korenjak, Martin (2017). "Why Mountains Matter: Early Modern Roots of a Modern Notion". Renaissance Quarterly. Cambridge University Press, Renaissance Society of America. 70 (1): 179–219. doi:10.1086/691833. JSTOR 26560196. S2CID 152172463.
- Herwig Teppner & Erich Klein (1990). "Nigritella rhellicani spec. nova und N. nigra (L.) Rchb. f. s. str. (Orchidaceae - Orchideae)" (PDF). Phyton (in German). Horn, Austria. 31 (1): 5–26. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
- "Nigritella rhellicani". albiflora.eu. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
- Ludwig, Walther (1983). "Die 'Stockhornias' Des Joannes Rhellicanus". Humanistica Lovaniensia (in German). Leuven University Press. 32: 218–24. JSTOR 23974249.
- Brucker (Bruckerus), Johann Heinrich (Johannes Henricus) (1752). Scriptores rerum Basiliensium minores: Chronica Episcoporum Vol. I [Minor Historians of Basel: Chronicle of Bishops Vol. I] (in Latin). Basel: Johannes Rodolphus Pistorius (Johann Rudolph Müller).
- Plutarch, (Pseudo-) (1537). Homeri vita, ex Plutarcho in Latinum tralata per Io. Rhellicanum, Tigurinum [The Life of Homer, from Plutarch, translated into Latin by Jo. Rhellicanus, the Tigurinus] (in Latin). Translated by Rhellicanus, Johannes. Basel.