Chapter 5
XXVII. What we owe to the Alchemists 240
Index 245
4
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
The Alchemist Frontispiece
An Alchemist 18
The Alchemist 19
Hermes Trismegistus 26
Ancient Egyptian Goldsmiths at Work 27
An Egyptian smelting and fusing Metal 27
An Alchemist and an Astrologer in Consultation over
a Process to be carried out when the Moon is in
the Sign of Scorpio 38
Tribicus and Still 44
Stills 45
Apparatus for Digestion 46
Symbolic Figures 65
Stills 65
A Graduated Recipient 66
Symbolic Representation of the Birth of the
Philosopher’s Stone 70
Title-page from “Basilica Chymica,” by Crollius (1612),
DEPICTING THE ‘ ‘ GREAT MASTERS AND SYMBOLS OF ALCHEMY ” 7 1
Apparatus for distilling Aqua Vit^e 75
The Stoning of Raymond Lully 81
An Alchemist 86
Symbolic Figure 87
Alchemists at Work in a Laboratory 90
Miniature of the Fifteenth Century depicting an
Alchemist in his Laboratory 96
5
LURE & ROMANCE OF ALCHEMY
PAGE
Miniature of the Fifteenth Century representing an
Alchemist’s Laboratory in which Two Assistants are
ENGAGED IN VARIOUS OPERATIONS 97
An Alchemist blowing the Fire of a Furnace ioo
Plan and Elevation of a Laboratory 109
Tribicus, Still, and other Apparatus described by
Synesius in the Fourth Century iio
Stills iio
An Alchemist in his Laboratory iio
The Alchemist iii
Still-heads and Alembics iii
Retorts and Matrasses 112
Pelicans, Cucurbits, and Twins 112
Apparatus for Digestion or Sublimation 113
Athanors 1 13
Apparatus for Digestion 114
Serpent Condenser 114
Furnaces of various Types 115
Apparatus for Distillation 116
A Retort and Recipient Still for making Spirit of Wine 117
Distilling Apparatus 118
A Hot Still 118
Apparatus employed in a Laboratory in the Late Seven¬
teenth Century 119
Early Greek Alchemical Symbols 122
Still for making Oil of Vitriol 122
Multiple Still for making the Elixir di Mara
Vigleosa Virtu 123
Symbolic Representation of one of the “Twelve Keys
of the Great Stone of the Philosophers” 126
A Monastic Laboratory 126
Symbolic Figure representing the Green Lion devouring
the Sun
6
127
ILLUSTRATIONS
PAGE
Symbolic Figure representing Coagulation of the First
Stone and its Sublimation 127
Symbolic Figure representing a Process in Alchemy 127
Symbolic Alchemical Figure representing a Process 128
Drawings of Apparatus for Separation and Rectification 128
Symbolic Representations of Operations 129
Secret Alphabets used by Alchemists in the Fifteenth
and Sixteenth Centuries 13 1
Some Alchemical Symbols used during the Medieval
Period 132
An Alchemist 136
Gold and Silver represented by a King and Queen 137
Licence granted to John Artec to practise Alchemy and
CONTINUE HIS WORK OF TRANSMUTATION 141
Rudolph II, Emperor of Germany, in the Laboratory of
his Alchemist 152
The Alchemist i 53
Henry Cornelius Agrippa 163
Paracelsus (1 493-1 541) 166
Ivory Mortar and Pestle carved in Relief with a
Representation of a Laboratory 167
Apparatus for Transmutation described by Paracelsus 168
Reputed Autograph of Paracelsus 172
Symbolic Figure representing an Alchemist and his Wife
engaged in the Preparation of the Philosopher’s
Stone 192
An Alchemist and his Wife engaged in various Operations 193
A Mystic Alchemist in his Laboratory 210
Page from a Manuscript on Alchemy, dated 1576, by
Christopher von Hirschenberg 21 i
Alchemists at Work in a Laboratory 21 i
The Origin of the Pelican 215
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LURE & ROMANCE OF ALCHEMY
PAGE
The Matrass likened to an Ostrich 215
A Laboratory in 1747 224
A Laboratory 225
Distilling Phosphorus in Godfrey’s Laboratory 228
A Laboratory, showing Furnaces, Retorts, and various
Apparatus used for Distillation in 1751 230
A Laboratory, showing Furnaces and Retorts used for
Distillation in 1751 231
A Laboratory 23 1
8
THE LURE AND ROMANCE
OF ALCHEMY