Bilder Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) – Map of Southern Africa and the Nile Sources – Etching (1665)

Beskrivning

"Hydrophylacium Africae precipuum in Montibus Lunae situm". This work presents a speculative geographic and hydrographic view of Southern Africa, illustrating Athanasius Kircher’s complex theories regarding the Earth's internal water systems. The map prominently features a large "hydrophylacium" or subterranean water reservoir located within the "Mountains of the Moon," which Kircher identified as the primary source of the Nile and other major African rivers. This etching is a double-page plate from the influential scientific work Mundus Subterraneus, published in Amsterdam by Johannes Janssonius van Waesberghe in 1665. The illustration is a quintessential example of seventeenth-century natural philosophy, blending early geographic exploration with fantastical geological hypotheses to explain the hydrological cycle.

Athanasius Kircher was a German Jesuit polymath and one of the most celebrated scholars of the seventeenth century. Based at the Collegio Romano, he authored dozens of works covering a vast array of subjects including volcanology, magnetism, and ancient languages. Kircher was a pioneer in using the microscope for scientific study and is often remembered for his efforts to synthesize all known human knowledge into a single worldview. His Mundus Subterraneus was a foundational text in the development of geology, proposing that the Earth contained a complex network of underground fires and water chambers. While his theories were later superseded by modern science, his maps remain highly significant for their technical execution and their reflection of the transition between Renaissance mysticism and Enlightenment empiricism.

Artist or Maker:
Athanasius Kircher.

Dimensions:
Approximately 40 cm x 43 cm.

Medium:
Etching.

Date:
1665.

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.