Theodoros Orphanides | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1817 |
| Died | 5 August 1886(1886-08-05) (aged 68–69) Athens, Greece |
| Nationality | Greek |
| Alma mater | University of Paris National Museum of Natural History, France |
| Known for | Botanical classification |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botany Plant Taxonomy Scientific classification |
| Institutions | University of Athens |
| Doctoral advisors | Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | Orph |
Theodoros Orphanides orOrphanidis (Greek:Θεόδωρος Ορφανίδης; 1817 – 5 August 1886) was a poet, professor, politician, author, and botanist. He was a pioneer in 19th-century Greek botany. He helped organize the botanical garden in Greece. The genus Orphanidesia is named after him. He collected 3483 specimens from 21 countries and identified 413 specimens from 9 different countries. He was a Professor of Botany at theNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens. He was one of the leading representatives of theFirst Athenian School. He received the Ralio award three times.[1][2][3][4]
He was born inSmyrna (nowİzmir), but his parents were fromChios,Greece. He was from a prominent wealthy family. His older brother wasDimitris Orphanides. He was a world-renowned doctor. His nephew was Greek OlympianGeorgios Orphanidis. After the outburst of theGreek Revolution, his family was forced to move toNafplio and laterTinos. They finally settled on the island ofSyros. He finished high school on the island of Syros. In 1835, at the age of 18, he moved to Athens. He was appointed ministerial scribe for the Ministry of Interior. While he lived in Athens he began to show an interest in writing political satire. Regrettably, because he was constantly criticizing theKing of Greece in his political satire he was fired from the ministry and was sentenced to 3 days in jail. He published two poems with the titleMenippus in 1836–1837. Four years later he was writing for the satirical newspaper(Archer) Τοξότης. In 1842, he wrote a poem entitledThe First Martyr Rigas and the Greek Revolution (Ο Πρωτομάρτυς Ρήγας και η Ελληνική Επανάστασις). In 1844, at the age of 27 after the personal intervention of the Greek Prime MinisterIoannis Kolettis. Theodore was sent to France on a scholarship from the Greek government. He studied at the prestigious botanical garden of theNational Museum of Natural History it was converted into a special academic research facility after theFrench Revolution. The institution was part of theUniversity of Paris andSorbonne University system. The facility had one of largest botanical gardens in the world at the time. It housed the Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants created by KingLouis XIII in 1635. Theodoro's professors at the institution wereAdrien-Henri de Jussieu,Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart,Joseph Decaisne andAchille Richard.[5][6][7][8]
When he returned to Athens on August 11, 1850, he was appointed Professor of Botany at theNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Four years later in 1854, he was awarded full Professor status. He maintained his position for over thirty years. The university was very political in nature. College professors usually participated in political debates and issues.Dimitrios Stroumpos andIoannis Papadakis were some of the other professors dragged into Greece's political issues. The university faculty and government created an alliance that led to the departure of world-renowned astronomerGeorgios Konstantinos Vouris.Vouris was Greek-Austrian. He was from the same country as theKing of Greece. During the years 1867 – 1868 Orphanides was Rector of the University. He was tirelessly collecting floral species from all over Greece. Theodore pressed the plants using aplant press and prepared them for classification. Specimens were prepared and glued to archival-qualitycard stock with their labels. Labels were made with special ink and attached with archival-quality glue. Theodore prepared countless plant specimens. The dried plants were added to his herbarium some were sent to different botanists all over the world. His plant material formed a remarkableHerbarium with over 45,000 specimens. He traveled across Greece studying plant diversity. He published his findings in anexsiccata work entitledFlora Graeca Exsiccata.[9][10] Theodore was also the superintendent of the botanical garden and the state arboretum, he introduced ornamental plants and he was actively involved in the design and creation of urban public parks. He oversaw the creation of theNational Garden of Athens. Theodore frequently collaborated with world-renowned botanists some includedTheodor von Heldreich andPierre Edmond Boissier. When he died hisHerbarium was purchased by national benefactorTheodoros Rodokanakis.Rodokanakis donated the collection to the Botanical Museum of the University.[11] After his death in 1886,Theodor von Heldreich distributed an exsiccata-like specimen series under the title "Reliquiae Orphanideae curante Th. de Heldreich anno 188. emissae".[12]
When Theodore became rector of the University of Athens he gave a notable speech on November 26, 1867. He discussed Greek vegetation and the classification and nomenclature of Greekflora. The speech was over 75 pages. Thirty pages of the speech were taxonomic tables where the classes, orders, and species of the Greek flora were described. Forty-five pages included the scientific clarification of botany. He was concerned with enriching the school's museum with botanical species. He was also concerned that students showed little interest in the natural sciences. He also discussed the need for a Greek botanical journal to communicate with Europe. He eventually started his own journal several years after his speech in 1872 entitledΓεωπονικά Geoponika. He noted that most of his work from touring the Greek countryside was used by world-renowned Swiss botanistPierre Edmond Boissier in his publication. The publication gave prestige and recognition to Theodore's work. Theodore explained thatTheophrastus was the father of botany but he also made reference to the modern advancements ofGeorges Cuvier andCarl Linnaeus. He wanted Greece to follow the European path of botanical studies. He also wanted to modernize his department.[13]
| Date | Title | Title in English |
|---|---|---|
| 1836 | Ο Μένιππος·Ποιήσεις Α | The PoemsMenippus A |
| 1837 | Ο Μένιππος· Ποιήσεις Β | The PoemsMenippus B |
| 1841 | Ο Τοξότης ( Έμμετρη Σατιρική Εφημερίδα) | The Archer (Published in the Emmetrical Satirical Newspaper) |
| 1842 | Ο Πρωτομάρτυς Ρήγας και η Ελληνική Επανάστασις | The First Martyr Rigas and the Greek Revolution |
| 1850 | Ankuendigung Flora Graeca Exsiccata | Identification of Dried Greek Flora |
| 1854 | Ο Άπατρις (αποσπάσματα) | Apatris (excerpts) |
| 1855 | Η Πόλις των Αθηνών | The City of Athens |
| 1858 | Τίρι Λίρι Ή Το Κυνηγέσιον Εν τη Νήσω Σύρω, Ποίημα Ηρωικοκωμικόν Εις Μέρη Επτά | Tiri Leery Or The Hunt In The Isles Of Syros, A Heroic-Comedian Poem In Seven Parts |
| 1858 | Χίος Δούλη Ποίημα Επικόν εις Άσματα Πέντε | Slave of Chios Epic Poem in Five Parts |
| 1858 | Άννα και Φλώρος Ή Ο Πύργος της Πέτρας | Anna and Floros Or The Tower of Stone |
| 1858 | Ο Ιώτας | Iotas |
| 1859 | Ποιήσεις Α | Poems A |
| 1860 | Άγιος Μηνάς (επεισόδιον της ελλην.επαναστάσεως) and Ποίημα λυρικο – επικόν υπό Θεοδώρου Ξένου | Agios Minas (Episode of the Greek Revolution) and Epic Lyrical poem by Theodoros Xenos |
| 1877 | Catalogus Systematicus Herbarii Theodori G. Orphanidis Professoris Botanices Nunc Munificentia Clarissimi Theodori P. Rhodocanakis in Museo Botanico Universitatis Athenarum | The Systematic Catalog of the Herbarium of Theodore G. Orphanidis, Professor of Botany Now the Munificence of the Most Famous Theodorus P. Rhodocanakis in the Botanical Museum of the University of Athens |
| 1916 | Τα Άπαντα · Μετά βιογραφικού Προλόγου υπό Ιω. Ζερβού | Ta Apata After a biographical Prologue by Io. Zervos |
Theplant speciesHeracleum orphanidis,Centaurea orphanidea,Biebersteinia orphanidis,Campanula orphanidea,Euphorbia orphanidis,Nepeta orphanidea,Tulipa orphanidea,Verbascum orphanideum andViola orphanidis are named after him.
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