Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) was an interdisciplinary scholar who published a vast number of texts on a range of subjects including mathematics, hieroglyphics, Egyptology, religion, music, magic, and science. Additionally, he presided over and curated the College of Rome (1651-80), a wunderkammer that in addition to comprising antiquities, curiosities, and flora and fauna specimens also included his projection and catoptric devices as well as listening and speaking tools that were embedded in the walls and sculptures of his museum.

Explore Related Taxonomies → Artificialia, Listening Tools