Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher (1601-1680) was a German Jesuit scholar known for his wide-ranging contributions to various fields of knowledge, including mathematics, linguistics, Egyptology, and science. Born as the youngest of nine children, Kircher displayed exceptional intelligence from a young age, mastering Hebrew and later joining the Jesuit order. His academic journey began at a Jesuit college, followed by studies in philosophy and theology, though his education was interrupted by conflicts during the Thirty Years' War, forcing him to flee multiple times across Europe.
After settling in Rome, he became a prolific writer and researcher, publishing over thirty books on diverse subjects, such as ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, geology, and the study of microorganisms, which he proposed as the cause of diseases. His notable works include "Oedipus Aegyptiacus," a comprehensive exploration of hieroglyphs, and "Mundus Subterraneus," a significant treatise on geology. Kircher's curiosity also led him to establish the Museum Kircherianum in Rome, where he showcased various curiosities and artifacts. His impact on several disciplines underscores his role as a pioneering figure in early modern scientific inquiry.
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Athanasius Kircher
Scholar
- Born: May 2, 1601
- Birthplace: Geisa, Hesse, Germany
- Died: November 28, 1680
- Place of death: Rome, Italy
Biography
Athanasius Kircher was born in Germany in 1601, the youngest of nine children. He distinguished himself early by showing unusual intelligence and learning Hebrew at a young age. In 1614, Kircher began attending a Jesuit college, joining the order as a seminarian during his four years there. He then studied philosophy and theology at Paderborn, but was forced to flee to Cologne when Protestant forces arrived. After a perilous journey, Kircher arrived in Cologne, and then left for Heiligenstadt; on his way there, he was captured by Protestant soldiers and nearly killed. He managed to escape and once in Heiligenstadt began teaching mathematics and foreign languages. In 1628, Kircher officially joined the priesthood. That same year he became a professor at the University of Würzburg, where he taught ethics, mathematics, and foreign languages. Kircher also began studying Egyptian hieroglyphs.
Kircher’s first book, Ars Magnesia (1631), recounted his experiments with magnesium. Unfortunately, Kircher was again forced to flee in the face of war, this time finding refuge in France, where he secured a position at the papal University of Avignon. In 1633, he was called by Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II to serve as court mathematician in Vienna. However, due to the intervention of an associate, Kircher was instead sent to Rome so he could continue his studies, and he remained in Rome for the rest of his life. Once settled in Rome, Kircher resumed his teaching, but retired after several years to devote himself full-time to his research, which included collecting curious items, which he then displayed in his personal museum, Museum Kircherianum.
Throughout his life, Kircher proved to be a prolific author, publishing more than thirty books on subjects ranging from ancient Egypt to music theory. Notable titles include Oedipus Aegyptiacvs. Hoc est uniuersalis hieroglyphicae veterum doctrinae temporum iniuria abolitae instavratio, a three-volume set exploring Egyptology; Mundus subterraneus, in XII libros digestus, a study of geology; and Scrvtinivm physico-medicvm contagiosae luis, quae pestis dicitur, in which Kircher asserted that microorganisms were the cause of disease.