The ‘subterranean’ volcanic system acording to Kircher

A striking early scientific diagram illustrating Kircher’s theory that the Earth’s volcanoes are interconnected by subterranean channels. The engraving presents a cross-section of the globe, showing a central fiery core linked to multiple erupting volcanoes across the surface, visualising a unified volcanic system beneath the Earth’s crust. Kircher proposed that these internal fires formed part of a broader natural mechanism, connected to underground water systems and responsible for phenomena such as earthquakes, tides, and oceanic movement. The composition is framed by clouds and wind-heads, reinforcing the interplay between terrestrial and atmospheric forces. Published in Mundus Subterraneus (1665), Kircher’s monumental study of the 'hidden' Earth, the plate reflects one of the earliest attempts to synthesise geology, geography, and natural philosophy into a coherent model. Though speculative in parts, it represents a foundational moment in the visualisation of the Earth’s internal structure.