This listing sold on Sat, 22 Nov at 5:38 AM.
Athanasius Kircher's Theatre of World Life and Work Search Universal Knowledge
Sold
Athanasius Kircher's Theatre of World Life and Work Search Universal Knowledge
US $24.90US $24.90
Nov 23, 05:38Nov 23, 05:38
Sell one like this
Seller's other items

Athanasius Kircher's Theatre of World Life and Work Search Universal Knowledge

EastJunior
(12850)
Seller's other items
Contact seller
US $24.90
ApproximatelyS$ 32.29
Condition:
Very Good
Sell one like this
Seller's other items
    Shipping:
    US $8.22 (approx S$ 10.66) USPS Media MailTM.
    Located in: Marshall, Texas, United States
    Delivery:
    Estimated between Thu, 4 Dec and Tue, 9 Dec to 94104
    Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer's proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the seller's shipping history, and other factors. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods.
    Returns:
    No returns accepted.
    Coverage:
    Read item description or contact seller for details. See all detailsSee all details on coverage
    (Not eligible for eBay purchase protection programmes)
    Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
    eBay item number:127304871191
    Last updated on Nov 11, 2025 01:42:56 SGTView all revisionsView all revisions

    Item specifics

    Condition
    Very Good: A book that has been read but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the cover, ...
    ISBN
    9781594773297
    Category

    About this product

    Product Identifiers

    Publisher
    Inner Traditions International, The Limited
    ISBN-10
    1594773297
    ISBN-13
    9781594773297
    eBay Product ID (ePID)
    72553241

    Product Key Features

    Book Title
    Athanasius Kircher's Theatre of the World : The Life and Work of the Last Man to Search for Universal Knowledge
    Number of Pages
    304 Pages
    Language
    English
    Publication Year
    2009
    Topic
    Philosophers, Freemasonry & Secret Societies, Cultural Heritage, Europe / Germany, Mysticism, General, Artists, Architects, Photographers
    Illustrator
    Yes
    Genre
    Body, Mind & Spirit, Social Science, Biography & Autobiography, History
    Author
    Joscelyn Godwin
    Format
    Hardcover

    Dimensions

    Item Height
    1.3 in
    Item Weight
    74.3 Oz
    Item Length
    11 in
    Item Width
    9.9 in

    Additional Product Features

    Intended Audience
    Trade
    LCCN
    2009-011796
    Dewey Edition
    22
    Reviews
    Kircher obviously had his books of ideas copiously illustrated with expensive copper engravings . . . the engravings were largely ignored. But now they are shown to advantage in Joscelyn Godwin's new book, a wonderful theatrical feast of architecture, mythological figures, curiosities such as moon dials and sunflower clocks along with machines which embrace both the past and the future. This is not to mention images of fabulous cities and the deities which were believed to have inhabited them, plus a sensational engraving of the Tower of Babel., . . . a valuable addition to the history and philosophy of science shelves, offering valuable insight into the life of one of the world's last true polymaths., Despite the constraints of his religious order, Kircher and his publishers engaged engravers, printers, and patrons to finance and produce a series of learned volumes on his subjects. He was at the heart of a global system of knowledge transfer, and was usually first to hear of geographical or scientific discoveries, as missionaries sent reports to him from all over the world. . . . The illustrations remain breathtaking . . ., . . . the main thing to say about this book is that it is a stupendously good piece of design. Every illustration is reproduced in exactly the right place; the captions are superbly apt and very clearly signaled; the sidebars are tactfully positioned and filled with exactly the right amount of information. The paper is heavy and rich, and properly bound. The author and the publisher have taken real, prolonged, and exhaustive pains to make a beautiful book, and succeeded., The reproductions are good, and Godwin deserves considerable praise for his close observation and background research, The great show in this beautifully produced book is the illustrations themselves, and the huge range of ideas they occupy. . . . Kircher might not have been hugely influential, might not have been the 'Renaissance Man' that, say, Leonardo was, but just looking at these pictures shows he ought to be more widely known. The beauty of many of the pictures is obvious, but with so many of them, covering such a broad array of inquiry, the effect of Godwin's book is to excite admiration for an extraordinary mind., Almost any modern work on archaeology, geology, science, medicine, or even Egyptian or Chinese history will present some intriguing fact . . . with a footnote referencing a work by Athanasius Kircher (1601-1680). The work of the polymath Jesuit richly rewards pursuit, and Joscelyn Godwin, a distinguished translator and professor of music at Colgate University, is the ideal guide. Not least of Godwin's services is placing Kircher in his intellecltual context. . . . What makes Kircher endlessly fascinating, as Godwin amply demonstrates, is the sheer breadth, depth, and expansiveness of his ever-curious mind. . . . Godwin and Inner Traditions deserve congratulations for a superb book, complete with bibliographies of Kircher's works and works about him., Kircher's lasting legacy has been his prodigious outpouring of scientific tomes, copiously--at times fantastically so--illustrated by a variety of highly skilled artists to help articulate his often startling and marvelous postulations. . . . a charming, hugely knowledgeable and delightfully droll guide to this fascinating seventeenth-century personage who embodied the intersection of science, art, and the imagination. In the end, it is his unrelenting spirit of inquiry that stands out as the thing that we, as present-day readers, can learn from. Making the most of his situation, station, and formidable intellect, Athanasius Kircher embarked on a life-long, all encompassing scientific enterprise on a scale that is nothing short of staggering., There was a slightly surreal side to 17th century science, too . . . His [Athanasius's] mind resembled a chamber of curiosities: full of strange and astonishing objects., Godwin's magisterial tome explains Kircher's many achievements (among them a prototype of the magic lantern, the ancestor of the slide-projector), and contains many of his astonishing illustrations, accompanied with detailed captions. He has been well served by his publisher, which has presented exemplary texts with masses of Kircher's fabulous images as a beautiful, absorbing and utterly wonderful book., Here we have a virtual window into the mind of a 17th century genius. Athanasius Kircher's Theatre of the World fully and masterfully examines every area of Kircher's wide field of study and accomplishment. The large volume is magnificently illustrated with the stunning engravings from Kircher's work.
    Dewey Decimal
    943/.04092 B
    Table Of Content
    Preface Prologue: Interesting Times 1 Kircher's Life and Work: an Overview 2 Frontispieces 3 The Illustration of Kircher's Works 4 Antiquity Misread 5 Antiquity Preserved 6 Antiquity Imagined 7 Naturalia: Fire and Water 8 Naturalia: Air and Earth 9 Music 10 Machines of Past and Present 11 Machines: Magnetic and Optical 12 Maps and Plans 13 Exotica 14 Images of the Gods 15 Didactic Images Athanasius Kircher's Writings Bibliography of Works Cited Sources of Illustrations Index
    Synopsis
    A major study of both the written and pictorial work of a neglected genius whose breadth of interest made him the last Renaissance man - Fully examines every area of Kircher's wide field of study and accomplishment - Magnificently illustrated with the stunning engravings from Kircher's work 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. The Hermetic cast of Kircher'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 "the last man who knew everything.", A major study of both the written and pictorial work of a neglected genius whose breadth of interest made him the last Renaissance man * Fully examines every area of Kircher's wide field of study and accomplishment * Magnificently illustrated with the stunning engravings from Kircher's work 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. The Hermetic cast of Kircher'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 "the last man who knew everything."
    LC Classification Number
    CT1098.K46G63 2009

    Item description from the seller

    About this seller

    EastJunior

    100% positive feedback•20K items sold

    Joined Jun 2001
    Visit storeContact

    Detailed Seller Ratings

    Average for the last 12 months
    Accurate description
    5.0
    Reasonable shipping cost
    4.9
    Shipping speed
    5.0
    Communication
    5.0

    Seller feedback (12,461)

    All ratingsselected
    Positive
    Neutral
    Negative
    • c***i (10)- Feedback left by buyer.
      Past month
      Verified purchase
      Beautiful, amazing book. Better than listed. It is brand new unread. I am very happy and thankful. A great seller. Arrived early, professional packaging and shipping. Great price to. Thank you.
    See all feedback