TO THE MOST SACRED

LEOPOLD I.

Ever August Emperor,

JUST, PIOUS, FORTUNATE,

KING of Bohemia, Hungary, and Rome,

THRICE GREATEST.

ATHANASIUS KIRCHER

After the mournful catastrophe of the universal flood and of Noah’s Ark original: "Arcæ Noëmicæ"; after the tragic destruction of the human race; after the most sorrowful appearance of the world and of all perishing things: I now bring forth onto the stage the Tower of Babel, representing a new state of the later age and the presentation of an unusual scene. A Tower, I say, constructed by the primeval tyrant of the world, Nimrod original: "Nembrod", the son of Ham and Cush original: "Chami Chusique", in the plain of Shinar original: "Sennaar" while the assembly of the entire human race was still lingering in that same place. A Tower celebrated—not to say infamous—throughout the perennial course of the ages for this reason alone: that the rash daring of human impiety attempted, with foolish presumption, to exalt a structure even to the furthest borders of the heavens. A structure, I say, which was guilty of treason against divine majesty original: "læsæ majestatis divinæ"; for while it arrogantly raised itself to a height unsuited to human affairs, it was cast down by the lightning of celestial vengeance and laid aside its pride. And so, as a clear proof of its own subversion, it testified to the supreme dominion of divine power and the truth of the Deity who is to be feared everywhere...