Koch Karl Heinrich Emil

Koch, Karl Heinrich Emil (b. June 6, 1809, Ettersburg (Weimar) – d. May 25, 1879, Berlin), German botanist, founder of dendrology. He studied at the Universities of Jena and Würzburg. He is known for his research in the Caucasus region and northeastern Turkey. From 1834 he worked at the University of Jena, serving as professor from 1836. In 1836–1838, he made his first journey to the Orient, the results of which he published in the book Journey through Russia and the Caucasus (2 volumes, Stuttgart). He visited the Caucasus (from Samegrelo to Batumi), the northern part of Armenia, the Persian plateau, and Ararat. Volume II describes in detail the southern road of Georgia, as well as the flora of Kartli, Guria, Racha, Imereti, Samegrelo, and Borchalo. In 1843–1844, Koch traveled to the Orient for a second time. He described this journey in the book Journey to the Orient (3 volumes, Weimar).

In 1855, Koch published the collection The Caucasian Countries and Armenia, which consists of five chapters. It compiles the works of five different authors. Of interest are Koch's works "Journey from Redut-Kale to Trabzon (Colchis and the Land of the Laz)" and "Going to the Battlefield. “ The first work consists of five parts. Koch was well acquainted with Georgia, considering it a country with an ancient culture and history. He conveys the tsarist policy implemented by the Governors-General of the Caucasus and describes in detail the events that occurred on the Caucasian battlefield.

Among other Georgian regions, Koch singles out Kakheti and considers it a more cultivated and flourishing area. "The villages followed one another in such a way, especially from Shilda, that it resembled one continuous vineyard." Guria also made a good impression on Koch. According to him, it is an "extraordinarily fertile region." Gurian wine, in Koch's opinion, is the best after Kakhetian and is highly valued in the South Caucasus. On the seashore, he considers Batumi to be the most important city. Koch describes in detail the German colony situated in the Kura [Mtkvari] lowland, which was known by the name of Marienfeld: "Every house is standardized, surrounded by gardens. In addition to splendidly maintained orchards, they have cultivated flower beds and vegetable gardens here." Koch specifically dwells on the slave trade, which had been conducted from ancient times in the main market of Akhaltsikhe.

Literary works: Reise durch Russland nach dem Koukas, Isthmus, 1842 – 43.

Literature: კ. კოხისა და რ. სპენსერის ცნობები საქართველოსა და კავკასიის შესახებ, გერმანულიდან თარგმნა, შესავალი და კომენტარები დაურთო ლონდა მამაცაშვილმა, 1981; საქართველოს ისტორიის ნარკვევვები, ტ. 4., თბ., 1973; შამილაძე ვ., მიმინოშვილი ო., ქართული ეთნოლოგიის ისტორია, I, თბ; 2009.

Ts. Kipiani