KIRCHER, ATHANASIUS, a celebrated natural philoso pher, was born at Fulda in 1601. At the age of 17, he began his studies under the Jesuits, and was soon distin guished by the rapidity of his progress, both in science and literature. When his studies were completed, he was ap pointed to teach philosophy, mathematics, Hebrew, and Syriac, in the university of Wurtzburg in Franconia ; and he filled this situation with great credit till the year 1631, when he withdrew into France, during the war between Ferdinand II. and Gustavus, and spent some time in the Jesuits' college at Avignon. In this situation he published, in 1635, his Primitive Gnomonicte, a work which contains the description of many curious dials, a subject to which he had paid particular attention. In 1643. he published at Cologne his Magnes sive de Arte Magnetica. Kircher was after this called to Rome, in order to fill the mathematical chair in the Roman College. After discharging this duty for 6 years, lie undertook the professorship of Hebrew. In 1646, he published at Rome, in folio, his Ars magna Lucia et Umbra, a work which contains much interesting matter, but particularly an account of Kircher's attempt to imitate the burning mirrors of Archimedes, and a description of the magic lantern, of which he was the undoubted inventor. In order to ascertain the possibility of Archimedes having burned the gallies of Marcellus, he made a yr)). age•to Sy
racuse, in company with his pupil and friend Schottus, in order to examine the harbour of that city. In 1650, lie published his Musurgia Universalis, which he dedicated to Leopold, Achduke of Austria, and afterwards Emperor of Germany. This work occupies 2 vols. and treats princi pally of the theory and practice of music. In 1656. he pub lished his her extaticum caleste quo mundi Old fiCiUM per fic tiraptus integumentum eaplanatum, nova hypothesi exposi tor. A second t.uition of this was published in 1660, to which was added the Iter extaticunzterrestre seu Mundus subterra neus. Another edition of both these works was published in 1671, with additions and illustrations by Gaspar Schottus.
Kircher died at Rome in the year 1680, in the 80th year of his age. Besides the works which we have mentioned, he published a work entitled Obeliscus Panzphylios, Oedi pus Egy/itiacus, in 4 vols. folio ; Obeliscus Egyfitiacus, in 4 vols. folio; and China Illustrata. His works extended to 22 vols. folio, 11 in 4to. and 3 in 8vo. He employed him self in collecting, for the Roman college, a cabinet of an tiquities, consisting of medals, mathematical instruments, rare animals, minerals, &c. This collection was finished by Father Bonanni, who published a description of it, which appeared at Rome. in 1707, under the title of Mu seum Kircherianum.