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.