• Mundus subterraneus, in XII libros digestus, 1665

Curatorial Notes:

• In 1638, the Jesuit polymath Athanasius Kircher gazed into the crater of Mount Vesuvius. Years later, in the Underground World, he posited a network of fiery, subterranean reservoirs that fueled volcanic eruptions. Drawing on medieval theories, he proposed that volcanic heat helped to form the metals from two primordial principles, “Sulphur” and “Mercury.” In a process akin to fractional distillation, underground chambers (labeled C to G) capture the principles in varying proportions, forming different metals and minerals.

Credit Line:

• Rare Books Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Format:

• Book

Type:

• Early works to 1800

Creator:

• Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680

Author:

• Kircher, Athanasius, 1602-1680

Language:

• Latin

Publisher:

• Amstelodami, apud J. Janssonium & E. Weyerstraten, 1665.

Date:

• 1665

Extent:

• 2 v. in 1. illus., plates (part fold.) maps (part fold.) tables (part fold.) diagrs. 40 cm.

View in catalog:

• https://catalog.princeton.edu/catalog/9924546373506421

Subject:

• Science—Early works to 1800
• Geology—Early works to 1800
• Natural history—Pre-Linnean works

Description:

• Title vignette.
• Added t.-p., engraved.
• Vol. II has special t.-p., engraved: Athanasii Kircheri ... Mundi subterranei tomus II.us In v. libros digestus quibus mundi subterranei fructus exponuntur, et quidquid tandem rarum, insolitum, et portentosum in foecundo naturæ utero continetur, ante oculos ponitur curiosi lectoris.
• Imperfect: t.-p. of v. 2 wanting.

Identifier:

• ark:/88435/2227mw62t