TO FERDINAND III

OF THE ROMANS

E M P E R O R

EVER AUGUST,

JUST, PIOUS, BLESSED,

K I N G

THRICE-GREATEST original Greek: ΤΡΙΣΜΕΓΙΣΤΩ (Trismegistō). This title, meaning "thrice-greatest," was traditionally associated with Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary sage of Egypt. By applying it to Ferdinand, Kircher suggests the Emperor possesses supreme wisdom.

Would that, MOST WISE EMPEROR, would that I were as able as I am willing, to find here in this first entrance original: "vestibulo," referring to the preface or opening of the book. of my Oedipus Kircher titles his work after Oedipus, the mythical Greek figure who solved the riddle of the Sphinx, symbolizing Kircher's own attempt to "solve" the riddle of Egyptian hieroglyphs. some symbol drawn from the innermost marrow of Egyptian Wisdom, by which I might be permitted to shadow forth, in some way, the splendors of YOUR heroic virtues and the inexhaustible treasures of YOUR truly Great and Imperial soul: for then indeed, I might seem to have reached the final harbor of my desire, not undeservedly, with favorable winds original: "felicibus Euris," referring to the Eurus or East Wind, used here as a metaphor for divine or imperial favor.. But YOU, in this [state] of human condition
fa- The text cuts off here with a catchword, a common printing practice where the first syllable of the next page is printed at the bottom right to ensure the binder places pages in the correct order.

Society of Jesus: Also known as the Jesuits, the Catholic religious order to which Kircher belonged, known for its focus on education and scientific research.
Oedipus: Here used as a metaphor for a master decipherer or problem-solver.
Egyptian Wisdom: In the 17th century, Egyptian hieroglyphs were believed to contain hidden, mystical truths about the universe that only the learned could decode.