Simon Robič (1824-1897) - a passionate Carniolan naturalist

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the independence of the Slovenian Museum of Natural History and  the 200th anniversary of the birth of Simon Robič

The exhibition presents the life and naturalistic work of the priest and naturalist Simon Robič (1824-1897). Born in Kranjska Gora, Robič was already fascinated by natural sciences at school. His work as a priest took him almost everywhere in what was then Carniola, but at the same time he explored nature with great enthusiasm, studying the local flora and fauna. Simon Robič devoted much of his free time to studying and collecting various specimens of insects, snails, plants and fossils. Many of his scientific findings were published in the then newspaper Kmetijske in rokodelske novice (Novice), where he wrote mostly in Slovenian. His passion for collecting attracted many foreign naturalists and researchers, who helped him identify various specimens. Several species of land snails and insects are named after him, and his collections are rich in species that he was the first to discover on the territory of Carniola. Simon Robič is still considered one of the most diligent and dedicated researchers and collectors who left a great mark on our natural history.

Symposium proceedings on Simon Robič (June 2024)

Vignette with a portrait of Simon Robič with his handwriting (for the background). Courtesy of the National Museum of Slovenia, Graphics Cabinet (Portrait) and Slovenian Museum of Natural History.

Simon Robič collected his first fossils mainly in the surroundings of his native Kranjska Gora. Photo: Matija Križnar

One of the best known localities of drypis (Drypis spinosa) is Grohat above Stranje, where Simon Robič noticed this previously unknown fungus on a plant’s dead leaves. He sent it to Wilhelm Voss, who described it as a new species Leptosphaeria rehmiana. Photo: David Kunc

Aleksander Bittner's (1850–1902) handwriting on a label from Robič's fossil collection. Housed by Slovenian Museum of Natural History. Photo: Matija Križnar

Page from the first inventory catalogue of the Museum's vertebrate collections. It lists 19 bird skeletons purchased from the Robič collection for the Carniolan Provincial Museum in 1893. Photo: David Kunc

Polžja hišica Paladilhiopsis robiciana iz izvira na Šenturški Gori. Po Clessin, 1887. Snail house of Paladilhiopsis robiciana froma spring on Šenturška Gora. After Clessin, 1887.

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