AUTHORS AND SCHOLARS
Ancient Egypt in Rome
Apuleius
Athanasius Kircher
Athanasius Kircher (1602–1680) was a German Jesuit, philosopher, and polymath renowned for his extensive intellectual pursuits, which spanned disciplines from geology to linguistics.
He dedicated part of his research to ancient Egypt, particularly focusing on the figure of Isis, whom he interpreted as a symbol of divine wisdom.
According to Kircher, the goddess embodied the universal principle of knowledge, a force permeating the cosmos through which the Egyptians sought to understand both nature and the divine.
He wrote: “The divine Dionysius testifies that all created things are nothing but mirrors in which the rays of divine wisdom are reflected for us. From this, the Egyptian sages created the image of Osiris who, having entrusted all things to Isis, invisibly permeated the entire world.”
Kircher believed that the images and myths associated with Isis were allegories of hidden truths—reflections of supreme wisdom. In his works, he asserted that “all created things are nothing but mirrors in which the rays of divine wisdom are reflected” and that Isis was the guardian of this esoteric knowledge, transmitting it to initiates through religious mysteries.
Although his interpretations were based on flawed assumptions, Kircher's work significantly shaped European perceptions of ancient Egypt.
His studies fueled the phenomenon of Egyptomania and contributed to the mystical aura surrounding Isis, which persists to this day.
Elements of his vision can be found in art, Freemasonry, and even in Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, where wisdom and enlightenment—concepts often linked to the goddess—play a central role.
While Kircher did not scientifically decipher hieroglyphics, his scholarship paved the way for renewed interest in Egyptian symbolism, reinforcing the idea of Isis as an emblem of hidden, universal knowledge accessible only to those capable of grasping its deeper meaning.
SOURCE: Wikipedia, Wikiquote, Adelphi
