Hieronymus Bock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hieronymus Bock |
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| Born | 1497/98 in |
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| Died | 21 February 1554 in Hornbach, Zweibrücken-Bitsch, Holy Roman Empire (in modern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany) |
| Church | Lutheran |
| Spouse | Eva Victor |
Hieronymus Bock (also known by his Latin name, Hieronymus Tragus) was a German scientist, doctor, and religious leader. He lived from about 1498 to 1554. He was very important in the world of plants, or botany. He helped change how people studied plants from old medieval ways to a more modern, scientific approach. He did this by grouping plants based on how they were related or how they looked similar.
Contents
Life and Discoveries
Not much is known about Hieronymus Bock's early life. In 1519, he started studying at the University of Heidelberg. He married Eva Victor in 1523. For nine years, he worked as a schoolteacher in Zweibrücken.
His Work as a Physician and Minister
Later, Bock became the personal doctor for the local prince. He also took care of the prince's kitchen garden. In 1533, he received a job for life as a Lutheran minister. This job was in a nearby town called Hornbach. He stayed there until he died in 1554.
How He Classified Plants
Bock's last name, Bock, means "male goat" in German. His Latin name, Tragus, also means the same thing in Ancient Greek.
His most famous book was called Kreutterbuch, which means "plant book." The first version came out in 1539. It did not have any pictures. Bock wanted to describe German plants, including their names, features, and how they could be used as medicine.
Instead of just copying old texts like Dioscorides, Bock created his own way to sort plants. He classified about 700 different plants. He traveled widely across Germany to observe plants himself. Because of this, his book included details about where plants grew and their natural environments.
Illustrated Kreutterbuch
In 1546, a new version of his Kreutterbuch was published. This edition had beautiful pictures drawn by the artist David Kandel. These illustrations helped people identify the plants more easily.
Other Noteworthy Contributions
Hieronymus Bock is also known in the world of wine. In 1552, he was the first person to write down the modern word Riesling. He mentioned this grape in his Latin plant book. His descriptions of oak apples are also important for entomologists, who study insects.
Several plant groups are named after him. These include the grass genus Tragus and the spurge genera Tragia and Tragiella. This shows how important his work was to the study of plants.
Publications
- New Kreuterbuch von Underscheidt, Würckung und Namen der Kreuter, so in teutschen Landen wachsen. Straßburg, 1546 Digital edition by the University and State Library Düsseldorf
