Demetrios Kokkidis
Dean of the School of Philosophy (University of Athens)
In office 1887 – -1888
Preceded by	Christos Papadopoulos
Succeeded by	Konstantinos Mitsopoulos
Director of the National Observatory of Athens
In office 1884–1890
Preceded by	Julius Schmidt
Succeeded by	Demetrios Eginitis
Personal details
Born	(1840-11-04)November 4, 1840 Athens, Greece
Died	February 11, 1896(1896-02-11) (aged 55) Athens, Greece
Profession	Professor, Dean
Known for	Astronomy
Scientific career
Alma mater	University of Berlin Berlin Observatory University of Paris
Awards	Order of the Redeemer
Fields	Geography Astronomy Meteorology Climatology Mathematics
Institutions	University of Athens Evelpidon National Observatory of Athens Naval Academy
Doctoral advisor	Johann Franz Encke
Other academic advisors	Kosmas Kokkidis

Demetrios Kokkidis (Greek: Δημήτριος Κοκκίδης; November 4, 1840 – February 11, 1896) was a Greek astronomer, mathematician, physicist, professor, and dean. Kokkidis was the fourth president of theAthens Observatory after the death ofJohann Friedrich Julius Schmidt. He was one of the few Greek astronomers of the 20th century followingGeorgios Konstantinos Vouris andIoannis Papadakis. He did extensive research and wrote articles about Mercury, the Sun, the Moon, and various meteorological phenomena.^[1][2]

Demetrios was born in Athens. His father was Greek War Hero Kosmas Kokkidis. Kosmas also taught atEvelpidon and Demetri's brother Ifikratis Kokkidis was a prominent military engineer. From a young age, Demetrios showed signs of higher intelligence and attracted the attention of Greek entrepreneur and philanthropistSimon Sinas. Demetrios studied astronomy at the University of Berlin and the Berlin Observatory under the supervision ofJohann Franz Encke. His dissertation in 1862 was entitledVariations of theDeclinations of the Starsθ Ursa Major andβ Draco (Variationibus Declinationum Stellarum θ Ursae Majoris et β Draconis). Demetrios also studied in Paris until 1877.^[3][4]

He returned to Greece and taught at three different institutions while writing for two publicationsParnassos andEstia. He briefly served as Dean of the Philosophical School which was part of the University of Athens. For his distinguished contribution to the field of astronomy, he was awarded theOrder of the Redeemer from Greece. He also received similar awards from Spain and Prussia. He died in Athens in 1896 at 55 years old.^[5]

Kokkidis was born in Athens. He was from a prestigious academic family. His mother's name was Fani and his father's name was Kosmas Kokkidis. Kosmas fought in the Greek War of Independence and eventually became a professor atEvelpidon. Demetri's brother Ifikratis Kokkidis was also a soldier and a professor at Evelpidon. In October 1850, Demetrios attended the southern junior high school, and three years later in September 1853, he was accepted at the first royal high school of Athens. One of his professors was physicist and mathematician Athanasios Kyzikinos. Demetrios graduated with high honors in June 1858.^[6] Because he was an extraordinary student he attracted the attention of Greek philanthropist and royalistSimon Sinas. Sinas and his fatherGeorgios Sinas were responsible for erecting theNational Observatory of Athens. Both figures were associated with Greek astronomersGeorgios Konstantinos Vouris andJohann Friedrich Julius Schmidt. Demetrios chose to study astronomy at theUniversity of Berlin and theBerlin Observatory.^[7] His professor was world-renowned astronomerJohann Franz Encke; Demetrios was also affiliated withKarl Christian Bruhns while he was at the Observatory. He completed a dissertation in 1862 entitled:Variations of theDeclinations of the Starsθ Ursa Major andβ Draco (Variationibus Declinationum Stellarum θ Ursae Majoris et β Draconis) afterward he continued his studies in Paris until 1877 occasionally returning to Greece.^[8][9]

He permanently returned to Greece and was appointed curator of the Athens observatory on April 16, 1877. On March 30, 1881, he became a professor of astronomy at the University of Athens teaching geography, astronomy, meteorology, climatology, and mathematics. Demetrios also taught geodesics, astronomy, and higher mathematics atEvelpidon and theHellenic Naval Academy following the footsteps of his father Kosmas. World-renowned Greek-German astronomer Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt died in 1884. Kokkidis assumed his role as director of the Athens Observatory becoming the fourth director. During his tenure, he wrote countless articles in the field of astronomy and expanded the existing weather stations adding ones in Corfu, Zakynthos, and Larissa. He became dean of the Philosophical School in the academic year 1887–1888 which was part of the University of Athens.^[10][11]

He worked tirelessly to strengthen relations between the Athens Observatory and its international counterparts. He received theOrder of the Redeemer from the Greek state and similar awards from Spain and Prussia for his contribution to astronomy. From 1840 to 1869 he was a consultant for the Athens Archaeological Society. He wrote for the publication Estia.^[12] Demetrios became a member of the scientific division ofParnassos Literary Society in 1870.^[13] The organization also featured a publication. The Parnassos club is now housed in a private mansion on St. George Square designed by his brother Ifikratis Kokkidis.^[14]

• Stefanidis, Michail K. (1952).Εθνικόν και Καποδιστριακόν Πανεπιστήμιον Αθηνών Εκατονταετηρίς 1837-1937. Τόμος Ε′, Ιστορία της Φυσικομαθηματικής Σχολής [National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Centenary 1837-1937. Volume V, History of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics](PDF). Athens: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
• Savaidou, Irini Mergoupi (2010).'Δημόσιος Λόγος περί Επιστήμης στην Ελλάδα, 1870–1900: Εκλαϊκευτικά Εγχειρήματα στο Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών, στους Πολιτιστικούς Συλλόγους και στα Περιοδικά [Public Discourse about Science in Greece, 1870-1900: Population Projects at the University of Athens, in Cultural Associations and Magazines](PDF). Athens, GR: Department of History and Philosophy of Science of the University of Athens.
• Harvey, Stephen; Matsopoulos, Nicolas (2020).The Moon A Translation of Der Mond by Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt. Horsham, United Kingdom: Springer.ISBN 978-3-030-37269-9.
• Theodossiou, E.Th.; Manimanis, V.N.; Mantarakis, P. (2007)."Demetrios Eginitis Restorer of the Athens Observatory"(PDF).Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage.10 (2):123–132.Bibcode:2007JAHH...10..123T.doi:10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2007.02.05.ISSN 1440-2807.S2CID 129260817. RetrievedAugust 26, 2022.
• Tampakis, Kostas; Vlahakis, George N. (2020).Science and Literature: Imagination Medicine and Space(PDF). Athens, Greece: National Hellenic Research Foundation.ISBN 978-960-7905-78-9.
• Harprecht, Adalbertus (1862).De Computationibus Functionum Ellipticarum, Quarum Moduli Sunt Reales [On the Computations of Elliptic functions Whose modules are real.]. Berlin, Germany: University of Berlin.
• Kokkidis, Demetrios (1862).Variationibus Declinationum Stellarum θ Ursae Majoris et β Draconis [Variations of the Declinations of the Stars θ Ursa Major and β Draco](PDF). Berlin, Germany: University of Berlin.

• 19th-century Greek mathematicians
• 19th-century Greek educators
• 19th-century Greek scientists
• 19th-century Greek astronomers
• Greek astronomers
• Greek meteorologists
• Academic staff of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
• University of Paris alumni
• Scientists from Athens
• Writers from Athens
• 1840 births
• 1896 deaths

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