Athanasius Kircher (1602–1680) (sometimes erroneously spelled Kirchner) is a 17th century German Jesuit scholar who publishes around 40 works, most notably in the fields of oriental studies, geology, and medicine.
Kircher has been compared to fellow Jesuit Roger Boscovich and to Leonardo da Vinci for his enormous range of interests, and has been honored with the title "master of a hundred arts".
Kircher is the most famous "decipherer" of hieroglyphs of his day, although most of his assumptions and "translations" in this field have since been disproved as nonsensical.
However, he does make an early study of Egyptian hieroglyphs, correctly establishing the link between the ancient Egyptian language and the Coptic language, for which he has been considered the founder of Egyptology.
He is also fascinated with Sinology, and writes an encyclopedia of China, in which he notes the early presence of Nestorian Christians but also attempts to establish more tenuous links with Egypt and Christianity.
Kircher's work with geology includes studies of volcanos and fossils.
One of the first people to observe microbes through a microscope, he is thus ahead of his time in proposing that the plague is caused by an infectious microorganism and in suggesting effective measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
Kircher also displays a keen interest in technology and mechanical inventions, and inventions attributed to him include a magnetic clock, various automatons and the first megaphone.
The invention of the magic lantern is often misattributed to Kircher, although he does conduct a study of the principles involved in his Ars Magna Lucis et Umbrae.
A scientific star in his day, towards the end of his life he is eclipsed by the rationalism of René Descartes and others.
In the late 20th century, however, the aesthetic qualities of his work again began to be appreciated.
