Athanasius Kircher. Oedipus Aegyptiacus. Hoc Est Universalis Hieroglyphicae Doctrinae temporum iniuria abolitae In... (Total: 3 Items)

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"Kircher's largest and most astounding work"

"Oedipus Aegyptiacus is Kircher's largest and most astounding work, the culmination of years of research in Egyptology. The work is an exhaustive treatise on every aspect of ancient Egypt, from history and geography to science, religion, and magic. Tome I gives a general overview of Egypt, her geography, the nature of the Nile, and the workings of the Egyptian government. Kircher also introduces here the Egyptian pantheon and demonstrates how Egyptian gods were carried into Greek and Roman worship. He discusses Egyptian religious influence on the Hebrews, Syrians, Babylonians, Persians, Samaritans, and others. The tome culminates with a discussion of the affinities between Egyptian religion and religious practices and mythologies of China, Japan, India, Mongolia, and interestingly enough, the Aztec culture of America. There are long separate sections on Egyptian magic, Kabbalah, mathematics, medicine, alchemy, religious practices, coinage, etc." (Merrill).

Kircher (1602-1680) was the youngest of nine children. He was educated at the Jesuit Gymnasium in Fulda where he learned Greek and Hebrew. He entered the Jesuit order in 1616. Kircher studied and taught in many of the leading centers of learning of his day, and was called in 1653 to Rome by Pope Urban VIII and Cardinal Barberii. In 1638 he was appointed professor of mathematics at the College of Rome. After eight years, he resigned this post and dedicated the rest of his life to independent studies in the same center. He was the first to recognize that Coptic was the modern descendant of Egyptian and was the foremost Egyptologist of his day.

Merrill, Kircher BYU,10. Esoterica 2389 "monument formidable". Casanatense 691. Caillet 5766 "Ouvrage tres rare." Baertsoen 660. Hilmy 343. Wellcome III, 395. Sommervogel IV, 1052-3. CLE J.819. Brunet III, 668. Graesse IV, 22. Godwin, Kircher, 56-65. DSB VII, 474-8. Alden/Landis 652/125.

Kircher, Athanasius. Oedipus Aegyptiacus. Hoc Est Universalis Hieroglyphicae Doctrin¾ temporum iniuria abolit¾ Instauratio. Opus ex omni Orienalium doctrina & sapientia conditum, nec non viginti diversarum linguarum authoritate stabilitum... Rome: Vitalis Mascardi, 1652-4. Folio. 4 vols. bound in 3. T.p.,¹2+2,2¹2,3+-9+4,a-c4,d2,A-3M4.
A-3N3 (with Nnn4 blank.)A-3Y4,3Z2,4A-4C4,3D2.A-4I4,4K2. [92], 424, [40], [1]; [2], 440, [30], 546, [26]; [2], 590, [36]p. Full contemporary vellum, lacks ties, spines restored, titles in contemp. hand on spines; volume one taller; some stains in inner margins of volume 2, some marginal worming, occasionally affecting a few letters of side-notes,marginal piece torn from pp 43/4 in volume 2 with small loss to side-note; old library stamp on t.p. of volume 3; repairs to folds of plates without significant losses. Portrait of Emperor Ferdinand III by Cornelis Bloemaert II, 2 folding maps, 11 folding plates, 10 tables in text, 2 text star maps. Numerous woodcut and engraved illustrations in text, head- & tail-pieces, and historiated initials. [Lacks engraved t.p.] First Edition. "Oedipus Aegyptiacus is Kircher's largest and most astounding work, the culmination of years of research in Egyptology. The work is an exhaustive treatise on every aspect of ancient Egypt, from history and geography to science, religion, and magic. Tome I gives a general overview of Egypt, her geography, the nature of the Nile, and the workings of the Egyptian government. Kircher also introduces here the Egyptian pantheon and demonstrates how Egyptian gods were carried into Greek and Roman worship. He discusses Egyptian religious influence on the Hebrews, Syrians, Babylonians, Persians, Samaritans, and other. The tome culminates with a discussion of the affinities between Egyptian religion and religious practices and mythologies of China, Japan, India, Mongolia, and interestingly enough, the Aztec culture of America. There are long separate sections on Egyptian magic, Kabbalah, mathematics, medicine, alchemy,religious practices, coinage, etc."[Merrill]
Kircher (1602-1680) was the youngest of nine children. He was educated at the Jesuit Gymnasium in Fulda where he learned Greek and Hebrew. He entered the Jesuit order in 1616. Kircher studied and taught in many of the leading centers of learning of his day, and was called in 1653 to Rome by Pope Urban VIII and Cardinal Barberii. In 1638 he was appointed professor of mathematics at the College of Rome. After eight years, he resigned this post and dedicated the rest of his life to independent studies in the same center. He was the first to recognize that Coptic was the modern descendant of Egyptian and was the foremost Egyptologist of his day. DŸnnnhaupt 11:I-III. Merrill,Kircher BYU,10. Esoterica 2389 "monument formidable". Casanatense 691. Caillet 5766 "Ouvrage tres rare." Baertsoen 660. Hilmy 343. Wellcome III,395. Sommervogel IV,1052-3. CLE J.819. Brunet III,668. Graesse IV,22. Godwin,Kircher,56-65. DSB VII,474-8. Alden/Landis 652/125. Occult. Egypt. Kabbalah. Medicine. Alchemy. mathematics. Jesuits. Astrology.Astronomy. America. Mexico.