Athanasius Kircher By Paula Findlen
Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) -- German Jesuit, occultist, polymath - was one of most curious figures in the history of science. He dabbled in all the mysteries of his time: the heavenly bodies, sound amplification, museology, botany, Asian languages, the pyramids of Egypt -- almost anything incompletely understood. Kircher coined the term electromagnetism, printed Sanskrit for the first time in a Western book, and built a famous museum collection. His wild, beautifully illustrated books are sometimes visionary, frequently wrong, and yet compelling documents in the history of ideas. They are being rediscovered in our own time. (Lamenting Leon talking now) He may have been "the last man who knew everything..." Lots of people 'poo-pooed' him at the time...others are finding out now that maybe Unkle Athanasius was on to something...tough to be caught in that great chasm of time between those who didn't read and couldn't and the time when everyone started reading...
Is it bread or is it Body???
Hey Len,
ReplyDeleteguess what... Athanasius was from Fulda :) Is he really related to you? Because if so, you should consider yourself a celebrity. In Germany, he is quite popular these days despite his lack of fans back in his own days.
Grüße aus Deutschland
Roman
(now living near Stuttgart!)
Roman.
ReplyDeleteYes - he is an Uncle. An American genealogist who spoke German and worked for the Army in Europe was able to connect us. I think he would be my 6th or 7th Great Uncle.