Editing Athanasius Kircher (section)

====Biblical studies and exegesis====
In 1675, he published ''[[Arca Noë]]'', the results of his research on the biblical [[Noah's Ark|Ark of Noah]] —  following the [[Counter-Reformation]], [[Allegorical interpretation of the Bible|allegorical interpretation]] was giving way to the study of the Old Testament as literal truth among Scriptural scholars. Kircher analyzed the dimensions of the Ark; based on the number of species known to him (excluding insects and other forms thought to [[spontaneous generation|arise spontaneously]]), he calculated that overcrowding would not have been a problem. He also discussed the logistics of the Ark voyage, speculating on whether extra livestock was brought to feed carnivores and what the daily schedule of feeding and caring for animals must have been.