Category:Coptic Zoographic Characters from Turris Babel, by Athanasius Kircher

This category contains the (so called) "Zoographic Characters", a supposed older version of Coptic script, according to S.I. Athanasius Kircher in his 1679 book Turris Babel.

In the book, these character are said to be the most ancient, and mystical, form of the later letters of the Coptic alphabet, whose meaning was instituted by Hermes Trismegistus himself (institutio facta à Tauto sive Mercurio Trismegisto), and to be the characters hence Greek letters are also derived; . Kircher states to have retrieved these characters from old Egyptian manuscripts brought to Europe by Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc (Peirescius)

In the description of each image Kircher's interpretations of the characters can be found; for a more extended discussion (in latin) please see page 231 of the book file and the following pages. In any case, please be noted that those are the interpretations given by Kircher himself, and although interesting they should not be taken as scientific thruths in the modern sense.