Biblical scholars of the time such as Justus Lipsius ( 1547 â `` 1606 ) and Athanasius Kircher ( c. 1601 â `` 80 ) were also beginning to look at the Ark story more closely . They tried to reconcile the Biblical account with natural historical knowledge of their time . Biblical scholars of the time such as Justus Lipsius ( 1547 â `` 1606 ) and Athanasius Kircher ( c. 1601 â `` 80 ) were also beginning to subject the Ark story to rigorous scrutiny as they attempted to harmonize the biblical account with natural historical knowledge .