![]() 1600 the strictly scientific sense went with chemistry, and alchemy was left with the sense "pursuit of the transmutation of baser metals into gold, search for the universal solvent and the panacea. ![]() Alchemy was the "chemistry" of the Middle Ages and early modern times, involving both occult and natural philosophy and practical chemistry and metallurgy. a power like that of alchemy: her beauty had a potent alchemy. The al- is the Arabic definite article, "the." The art and the name were adopted by the Arabs from Alexandrians and entered Europe via Arabic Spain. (Alchemy) the pseudoscientific predecessor of chemistry that sought a method of transmuting base metals into gold, an elixir to prolong life indefinitely, a panacea or universal remedy, and an alkahest or universal solvent. khymeia was probably the original, being first applied to pharmaceutical chemistry, which was chiefly concerned with juices or infusions of plants that the pursuits of the Alexandrian alchemists were a subsequent development of chemical study, and that the notoriety of these may have caused the name of the art to be popularly associated with the ancient name of Egypt. concludes, after an elaborate investigation, that Gr. The word seems to have elements of both origins. Perhaps from an old name for Egypt ( Khemia, literally "land of black earth," found in Plutarch), or from Greek khymatos "that which is poured out," from khein "to pour," from PIE root *gheu- "to pour". ![]() in a decree of Diocletian against "the old writings of the Egyptians"), all meaning "alchemy," and of uncertain origin. Recent research is increasingly showing the complexity of alchemy and its multiple relation to Western thought."medieval chemistry the supposed science of transmutation of base metals into silver or gold" (involving also the quest for the universal solvent, quintessence, etc.), mid-14c., from Old French alchimie (14c.), alquemie (13c.), from Medieval Latin alkimia, from Arabic al-kimiya, from Greek khemeioa (found c.300 C.E. They contain magical spells of all kinds, such as how to incite fierceness. In contemporary thought the memory of alchemy was scarcely regarded, save as protochemistry or as a branch of esotericism, until interest in it was revived by C.G. Several surviving medieval scrolls combine magic and medicine with alchemy. Since then alchemy has confronted natural philosophy for several centuries. But when, after a long detour via Byzantium and Islamic culture, it came back again to Europe in the twelfth century, adepts designated themselves philosophers. In the Western world alchemy presented itself at its advent as a sacred art. ![]() Because of its purpose, the alchemists’ quest is always strictly linked to the religious doctrine of redemption current in each civilization where alchemy is practised. The symbol is a serpent or snake usually. ![]() The Mercury element meaning symbolize the planet Mercury. Both heaven and earth, and even death and life. To alchemists, the mercury alchemical symbol rises above both the liquid and solid states. It exists in many cultures (China, India, Islam in the Western world since Hellenistic times) under different specifications: aiming at the production of gold and/or other perfect substances from baser ones, or of the elixir that prolongs life, or even of life itself. This alchemy symbol is one of the three heavenly substances as well as the seven metals of alchemy. Alchemy is the quest for an agent of material perfection, produced through a creative activity ( opus), in which humans and nature collaborate. ![]()
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