115 Athanasius Kircher (1602–1680) – Typus Sympathicus Microcosmi cum Megacosmo – Engraved Diagram from Mundus Subterraneus (1665)

This engraved diagram titled "Typus Sympathicus Microcosmi cum Megacosmo" is taken from Athanasius Kircher’s influential work Mundus Subterraneus, published in Amsterdam in 1665. The image represents the concept of the human being (microcosm) as a mirror of the universe (macrocosm), integrating astrological, alchemical, and anatomical symbolism. It depicts a nude man at the center of concentric rings featuring zodiac signs, planetary glyphs, and classical correspondences between celestial bodies and human organs. Used to demonstrate the sympathetic connections between man and cosmos, the diagram reflects the deeply syncretic worldview of early modern science. Mundus Subterraneus was one of Kircher’s most ambitious encyclopedic treatises, encompassing geology, mythology, medicine, and natural philosophy.