CHT163695 Device for listening to conversation in a piazza, illustration from \'Musurgia Universalis\' by Athanasius Kircher (1601-80) published in Rome, 1650 (engraving) by Italian School, (17th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Athanasius Kircher (1602-80) German Jesuit scholar and polymath; his \'Musurgia Universalis\' is a seminal work of musicology, published in Rome in 2 volumes in 1650 and was very influential in the development of Western music, especially influencing J.S. Bach (1685-1750) and Beethoven (1770-1827); the tubes shown here allowed voices from people speaking in a public place to be carried up to the mouth of a statue in a room above; system based on the compression of sound waves; allegedly invented by Denys the Elder (405-367 BC) tyrant of Syracuse for spying on his courtiers and his people;); 穢 Archives Charmet; Italian, out of copyright.