KIRCHER, ATHA.NASIUS, born at Geyscn, near Fulda, in 1602, entered at an early age the order of Jesuits, made great progress in various branches of learning, especially in the study of Hebrew and other Eastern languages, and was made professor of philosophy and Oriental languages in the college of Wiirzburg. He afterwards went to Avignon, where be became acquainted with the learned Peirese, and be there applied himself to the study of antiquities. From Avignon he went to Rome, visited Naples, Sicily, and Malta, and on his return was made professor of mathematics in the Roman or Gregorian college at Rome. He filled this chair for eight years, and resigned it in order to devote himself entirely to his favourite studies. He collected a valuable MUIsuM of antiquities, which he left to the Roman college, and which has been repeatedly illustrated. (Sepi, 'Romani Collegii Soc. Jean Musreum Athanaaii Kircheri novis et raris inventis locupletatum; fol., Amsterdam, 1678, with a complete list of all the works of Kircher, published and republished ; Bonanni, 'Museum Kircherianum; fol., Rome, 1709; republished by Battara, Rome, 1773 ; Cootucci, Musmi Kircheriani Area notis 2 vole. fol., Rome, 1763-65.) Kircher was liberally assisted by sevbral princes and noblemen, German, Italian, and Spanish. Ho died at Rome, in November 1680. He was a man of very extensive and varied erudition, and a very copious writer; but his judgment was defective; he wanted criticism, and jumped too hastily at conclusions, fancying that he could resolve any question. Ho was also very credulous, as
his works amply testify. He wrote on mathematical and physical sciences; on philology and hieroglyphics, and also upon history and antiquities. His principal works are :-1. Magnes, een de Arts Magnetics,' libri iii.; 2. 'Prinaitias Gnomonicas Catoptricm, hoe eat, Horologiographite nova3 specularis ;' 3. Ars magna Lucie et Umbrm 4. Prodromus Coptus ; 5. Inatitutiones Grammaticales et Lexicon Copticum.' In these two last works he gave the beat information up to that time concerning the Coptic language. 6. CEdipus lEgyptiaeus, boo eat, Universalie llieroglyphicm Veterum Doctrine, Temporum Injuria ebolita3 Instauratio; 4 vols. fol., Rome, 1652-54. Kircher dedicated this work to the Emperor Ferdinand 111., whose eulogium is prefixed, written in 20 languages of Europe and Asia. The work is full of quotations from Rabbinical, Arabian, and Syriac writers. 7. 'China illustrate.' 8. 'De prodigiosis Crucibus qua3 post ultimata Incendlum Vesuvii Montis Neapoli comparuerunt; 9. ‘Scrutinium Pestle.' 10. 'Latium, L e., nova et parallels Latii turn veteris turn novi Deecriptio, qua qnrecumque vel nature, 'eel veterum Rnrnanorum ingenium admiranda efficit, geographico-historico-physico Ratioeinio, joxta rerum gestarum temporumque aericm exponitur et enucleatur; foL, Amsterdam, 1671, with maps and figures, and a minute descrip tion of Hadrian's villa, with a plan of it. This work of Kircher is one of his best, and may still be read with profit.