Reflexion des Schalls in einem gekrümmten Hohlkörper (Horn)

This scientific engraving depicts a cross-section of a curved hollow instrument, showing how sound waves (represented by zig-zagging lines) bounce off internal walls. Points of contact along the inner and outer curves are meticulously labeled with Latin and Greek characters to demonstrate the physics of sound amplification. It serves as a visual proof for the mechanics of speaking trumpets and the behavior of echoes.

Created by the Jesuit polymath Athanasius Kircher, this work bridges the gap between Renaissance natural magic and early modern physics. It reflects Kircher's career-long obsession with acoustics as a way to understand the hidden, harmonious laws of the divine creation.