A Study of the Life and Works of Athanasius Kircher, ‘Germanus Incredibilis’: With a Selection of his Unpublished Correspondence and an Annotated Translation of his AutobiographyAthanasius Kircher, a German Jesuit in 17th-century Rome, was an enigma. Intensely pious and a prolific author, he was also a polymath fascinated with everything from Egyptian hieroglyphs to the tiny creatures in his microscope. His correspondence with popes, princes and priests was a window into the restless energy of the period. It showed first-hand the seventeenth-century’s struggle for knowledge in astronomy, microscopy, geology, chemistry, musicology, Egyptology, horology... The list goes on. Kircher’s books reflect the mind-set of 17th-century scholars - endless curiosity and a substantial larding of naiveté: Kircher scorned alchemy as the wishful thinking of charlatans, yet believed in dragons. His life and correspondence provide a key to the transition from the Middle Ages to a new scientific age. This book, though unpublished, has been long quoted and referred to. Awaited by scholars and specialists of Kircher, it is finally available with this edition. |
Contents
Part II Kirchers Correspondence | 193 |
Part III Kirchers Life and Letters | 389 |
Part IV Kirchers Vita with Translation and Annotations by John Fletcher | 459 |
Appendix Publications of John Fletcher | 553 |
| 565 | |
| 601 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
admiration Alexander VII Andreas April APUG archives astronomical Athanasius Kircher August Avignon Barberini Barthold Nihus Biblionews Cardinal century Chigi church Collegium Romanum copy dedicated Duke Egyptian Emperor Epist Fasciculus epistolarum Father February Ferdinand Friedrich Fulda Geisa German Geschichte Greg Gregoriana Gryphius Harsdörffer Heveliusz hieroglyphs Holstenius Holy interest January Jesuit Johann July June Kircher describes Kircher’s correspondence Kircher’s letters Kircheriana Kuhlmann Langenmantel later Latium learned Leibniz letter to Kircher letter written Library Lucas Holstenius magna Magnes magnetic Mainz Malta manuscript March mathematics mentions microscope Mundus subterraneus Münster Museum Musurgia universalis Nihus November Obeliscus Pamphilius obelisk observations October Oedipus aegyptiacus Peiresc Pont Pope Pope Alexander VII possibly Prague praise preserved Prince printed published received reference Roman Rome Schega scholar Schott Schröck Scrutinium seems sent September sive Society of Jesus talks thanks Kircher tion Univ Vienna visited Vita writing Würzburg