Alphons Stübel
Encyclopedia
Moritz Alphons Stübel was a German geologist
and vulcanologist who was a native of Leipzig
.
He studied chemistry
and mineralogy
at the University of Leipzig
. With geologist Wilhelm Reiss
(1838-1908), he conducted geological and volcanological research in the Andes (Colombia and Ecuador) from 1868 to 1874. Afterwards the two geologists continued their research in Peru and Brazil, with Reiss returning to Germany in 1876 and Stübel continuing his travels throughout the continent (Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia), returning to Germany in August-1877.
In South America he also made astronomical measurements and performed meteorological, ethnographical
zoological
and archaeological research. Scientific material collected in South America was later preserved at the Museum of Comparative Cultures in Leipzig. In addition, Stübel took numerous photographs and created sketches of the places he visited.Many of the butterflies collected by Stübel were new species.They were described by the Berlin entomologists Gustav Weymer
and Peter Maassen.
Stübel also made a lesser known contribution to the study of the Middle East. In the years 1858, 1882 and 1890 he travelled mainly in Syria
, Lebanon
, Palestine
, and Egypt
. He collected about 600 large-size photographs on these journeys and at other occasions. This collection came via his nephew Bruno Stübel to Jena University. They form the core of the "Alphons-Stübel Collection of Early Photographs of the Middle East 1850-1890".
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and vulcanologist who was a native of Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
.
He studied chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
. With geologist Wilhelm Reiss
Wilhelm Reiss
Wilhelm Reiss was a German geologist and explorer born in Mannheim. Along with Angel Escobar, he was the first person to scale Cotopaxi , and with Alphons Stübel, he was the first to ascend Tungurahua ....
(1838-1908), he conducted geological and volcanological research in the Andes (Colombia and Ecuador) from 1868 to 1874. Afterwards the two geologists continued their research in Peru and Brazil, with Reiss returning to Germany in 1876 and Stübel continuing his travels throughout the continent (Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia), returning to Germany in August-1877.
In South America he also made astronomical measurements and performed meteorological, ethnographical
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
zoological
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
and archaeological research. Scientific material collected in South America was later preserved at the Museum of Comparative Cultures in Leipzig. In addition, Stübel took numerous photographs and created sketches of the places he visited.Many of the butterflies collected by Stübel were new species.They were described by the Berlin entomologists Gustav Weymer
Gustav Weymer
Gustav Weymer was a German entomologist.He described many new taxa of butterflies from specimens collected by Alphons Stübelin South America....
and Peter Maassen.
Stübel also made a lesser known contribution to the study of the Middle East. In the years 1858, 1882 and 1890 he travelled mainly in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. He collected about 600 large-size photographs on these journeys and at other occasions. This collection came via his nephew Bruno Stübel to Jena University. They form the core of the "Alphons-Stübel Collection of Early Photographs of the Middle East 1850-1890".
Selected publications
- Geschichte und Beschreibung der vulkanischen Ausbrüche bei Santorin von der ältesten Zeit bis auf die Gegenwart, (History and Description of Volcanic Eruptions at SantoriniSantoriniSantorini , officially Thira , is an island located in the southern Aegean Sea, about southeast from Greece's mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera...
from the Earliest Times to the Present), Bassermann, Heidelberg 1868 - Skizzen aus Ecuador, (Sketches from Ecuador), Asher & Co., Berlin 1886
- Die Ruinenstätte von Tiahuanaco im Hochlande des alten Perú, (The Ruins of Tiahuanaco in the Highlands of Ancient Peru)- with Friedrich Max UhleMax UhleMax Uhle was a German archaeologist, whose work in Peru, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia at the turn of the Twentieth Century had a significant impact on the practice of archaeology of South America....
; Hiersemann, Leipzig 1892 - Die Vulkanberge von Ecuador, (The Volcanic Mountains of Ecuador), Asher & Co., Berlin 1897
- Karte der Vulkanberge Anatisana, Chacana, Sincholagua, Quinlindaña, Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui und Pasocha), (Map of the Volcanic Mountains: Anatisana, Chacana, Sincholagua, Quinlindaña, Cotopaxi, Rumiñahui and Pasocha), Leipzig 1903
- MartiniqueMartiniqueMartinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
und St. VincentSaint Vincent (island)Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
, Leipzig 1903 - Rückblick auf die Ausbruchsperiode des Mont Pelé auf Martinique 1902 bis 1903 vom theoretischen Gesichtspunkte, (Looking Back on the Outbreak Period of Mount PeléeMount PeléeMount Pelée is an active volcano at the northern end of the island and French overseas department of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles island arc of the Caribbean. Its volcanic cone is composed of layers of volcanic ash and hardened lava....
in Martinique from 1902 to 1903 from Theoretical Considerations), Leipzig 1904