Kircher Collection

The Kircher Collection displays artifacts, scientific instruments, and antiquities gathered by the Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher in the Roman College building.

Established in 1651 through Alfonso Donnino's endowment, the museum accumulated Egyptian antiquities, mathematical devices, and archaeological discoveries until Italy's unification in 1870.

The collection demonstrates the intersection of scientific inquiry and classical studies in 17th-century Europe through its diverse array of mathematical instruments and ancient artifacts.

Many objects from the original collection are now distributed among different Roman institutions, including Villa Giulia and the National Museum of Rome.

The museum's original catalog from 1678 by Giorgio de Sepibus documents the first systematic arrangement of scientific instruments alongside archaeological finds in museum history.

Location: Rome

Inception: 1651

Founders: Athanasius Kircher

Official opening: 1651

Address: Piazza del Collegio Romano 4

GPS coordinates: 41.89895,12.48456

Latest update: March 4, 2025 18:27