Athanasius Kircher (1602 – 1680) was one of the most famous polymaths of the 17th century, a German Jesuit who dedicated most of his life to the Roman College. His fields of interest are surprisingly varied: he wrote fundamental works on Egyptology, Sinology, geology, medicine, mathematics, chemistry, music theory, bacteriology, astronomy, colour theory, optics.
Kircher's unrelenting zest for learning led the scientist to descend into the crater of Vesuvius and conduct an investigation there while the volcano was still smouldering after its destructive eruption seven years before [...]
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