Alchemy and AlchemistsCourier Corporation, 1 Ιαν 2002 - 248 σελίδες Alchemy, whose beginnings — possibly in Egypt, Babylon, India, or China — are ancient and obscure, remained undocumented until about 2500 BC. Although it may have originated with metallurgy, the practice rapidly developed an association with magic, pharmacy, and astrology. In this richly illustrated and amply researched study, a noted expert traces the long history of alchemy, from its murky start to modern times. Hermes Trismegistus and other famous alchemists appear here, along with discussions of the craft's associations with chicanery (as memorably portrayed in Ben Jonson's 1610 comedy, The Alchemist), and its role in the secret society of Rosicrucians. Additional topics include the alchemist's laboratory and equipment, alchemical symbols and secret alphabets, noteworthy manuscripts, the influence of astrology, and more. Although regarded today as a pseudoscience, alchemy gave rise to scientific chemistry. This volume illustrates the ways in which efforts to transmute metals — such as the search for the ever-elusive philosopher's stone — stimulated experimentation with hitherto untried substances, leading to improved knowledge of the materials vital to applied chemistry. Anyone intrigued by the origins and practices of this age-old and still-mysterious discipline, as well as those interested in the history of chemistry, will appreciate this concise, authoritative study. |
Περιεχόμενα
THE DAWN OF ALCHEMY | 12 |
THE ROMANCE OF THE SEVEN METALS | 14 |
THE DIVINE ART IN THE NEAR EAST | 25 |
THE MYSTERY OF THE EMERALD TABLET | 31 |
THE GREEK ALCHEMISTS | 41 |
ALCHEMY IN CHINA AND INDIA | 49 |
THE ARABIAN ALCHEMISTS | 59 |
FAMOUS ALCHEMISTS OF MEDIEVAL TIMES | 79 |
SOME NOTABLE ALCHEMICAL MANUSCRIPTS | 134 |
ALCHEMISTS AND ROYALTY | 140 |
ALCHEMISTS IN FORTUNE AND MISFORTUNE | 150 |
FAMOUS ALCHEMISTS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY | 159 |
CÆTANO AND BORRI | 174 |
THE ROSICRUCIANS AND ALCHEMY | 203 |
THE LAST OF THE ALCHEMISTS | 216 |
THE DAWN OF SCIENTIFIC CHEMISTRY | 222 |
ENGLISH ALCHEMISTS OF THE MIDDLE AGES | 91 |
ALCHEMY IN THE TIME OF JOHN GOWER | 102 |
THE ALCHEMISTS LABORATORY AND HIS APPARATUS | 108 |
ALCHEMICAL SYMBOLS AND SECRET ALPHABETS | 120 |
ALCHEMY AND GOLDMAKERS IN MODERN TIMES | 233 |
WHAT WE OWE TO THE ALCHEMISTS | 240 |
245 | |
Άλλες εκδόσεις - Προβολή όλων
Συχνά εμφανιζόμενοι όροι και φράσεις
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