A major study of both the written and pictorial work of a neglected genius whose breadth of interest made him the last Renaissance man <br /> <br />&bull; Fully examines every area of Kircher&rsquo;s wide field of study and accomplishment <br /> <br />&bull; Magnificently illustrated with the stunning engravings from Kircher&rsquo;s work <br /> <br />Jesuit, linguist, archaeologist, and exceptional scholar, Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) was the last true Renaissance man. To Kircher the entire world was a glorious manifestation of God whose exploration was both a scientific quest and a religious experience. His works on Egyptology (he is credited with being the first Egyptologist), music, optics, magnetism, geology, and comparative religion were the definitive texts of their time--and yet they represent only a part of his vast range of knowledge. A Christian Hermeticist in the mold of Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola, his work also examined alchemy, the Kabbalah, and the Egyptian mystery tradition exemplified by Hermes Trismegistus. <br /> <br />The Hermetic cast of Kircher&rsquo;s thought, which was foreign to the concerns of those propelling the Age of Reason, coupled with the breadth of his interests, caused many of his contributions to be widely overlooked--an oversight now masterfully rectified by Joscelyn Godwin. It has been said that Kircher could think only in images. While this is an exaggeration, the stunning engravings that are a distinguishing feature of his work are included here so we may fully appreciate and see for ourselves the life work, philosophy, and achievements of &ldquo;the last man who knew everything.&rdquo;