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Alchemy Academy archive February 2001 Back to alchemy academy archives. Subject: ACADEMY : John Dee's Rosicrucian secrets From: Robert Vanloo Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 I refer to the Harleian MSS N° 6485 intitled "The Rosie Crucian Secrets" of which there has been a reprint in 1985 by the Aquarian Press. In his Preface, E.J. Langford Garstin does not bring much light on the subject of the MSS' authorship and he quotes as possible : Fludd, Vaughan, Maier, etc. Some others give Dee's own son as the possible author. Has anybody more precise information on the subject ? Merci à tous. Robert Vanloo Subject: ACADEMY : John Dee's Rosicrucian secrets From: Adam McLean Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 Harleian Mss 6485 is one of a group of manuscripts, from 6481 to 6486, written by Peter Smart or Rudd purporting to be from earlier manuscripts to which he had access. The 'Rosicrucian Secrets of John Dee' manuscript has nothing at all to do with John Dee, but was Smart or Rudd's copy and paraphrase of various alchemical writings from earlier in the 17th century, some by Christopher Heydon. I pointed this out to the publishers, Aquarian Press, before they published the book in 1985 and I provided them with full information on the origins of the texts in this book and the fact that they could have had nothing whatsoever to do with Dee. But they chose not to listen - they wanted to have John Dee's name attached to this book to add to its sales. Three or four times a year I have someone write to me believing this work to be by Dee. To me it is attrocious that editors, knowing the truth about some manuscript or drawings, should instead mischievously publish this in such a way as to delude future readers and perpetuate untruths. The main source for the material in this manuscript is Christopher Heydon's 'Elharvareuna'. Then there is the famous letter of Helvetius. The dictionary section is an extract from a well known work. The Laws of the Rosicrucians is an adaptation of Michael Maier. The tree diagrams are from Samuel Norton's books issued in 1630. It is merely a compilation made in the late 17th or early 18th century, posing as a manuscript of Dee. All the sections are extensively altered by the compiler to suite his own agenda. It illustrates the continuation of the need by some alchemists to pass off material as dating from a previous time and ascribe it to a well known historical figure. The Aquarian Press seemed to want to continue this tradition for mercenary rather than alchemical reasons. Regrettably their decision has much confused those who don't have easy access to the original works. Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Ruffs on well dressed women in emblems From:Jackson Wiley Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 I have long been puzzled by the well dressed women that are in a few of the "women's work" emblems. Such well dressed women can be seen in emblem #22 of Mylius 'Philosophia Reformata' (Magnum Opus # 19) and 'Splendor Solis' emblem # 21(Magnum Opus #8. In Mylius emblem #22 the woman pouring the water in the vessel (washtub) is wearing a ruff. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a ruff as follows: "A stiffly starched, frilled or pleated circular collar of lace, muslin, or other fine fabric, worn by men and women in the 16th and 17th centuries". There is a photo next to the definition of a painting of a woman of this time era wearing such a ruff. In the same dictionary, the definition of a stomacher as "a decoritive, heavily embroidered or jeweled garment formally worn over the chest and stomach, especially by women" is accompanied by a photo of a woman wearing such garment. The garment is accompanied by the same distinctive collar or ruff. As there is a picture of a young man in Splendor Solis emblem #11 wearing a "ruff" is also puzzling and proof that it shows up in other emblems. In "The Domestic Alchemist by M.E. Warlick in "Emblems and Alchemy" (Glasgow Emblem Studies) edited by Alison Adams of the French Department of Universityof Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, there is a crudely, hand coloured woodcut (reproduced in black and white) of the same Splendor Solis Emblem #21 which takes care to show both women washing with the ruffs or collars in place. Herein lies the difficulty. It is easy to project various meanings and Adam has admomished us to be careful of such projections. However, Adam has also advised us that every symbol is present in each emblem for a reason. Also, if one reads the commentary for Mylius in Magnum Opus # 19 one cannot ignore that a kind of help came to the plainly dressed woman in emblem #22. My question is: What "help" (if in fact any, was rendered to the plainly dressed young woman by a well dressed and peasant-dressed woman doing "Women's Work "?) is symbolized by these collars if any and/or what importance do the collars represent in emblem #21 of Splendor Solis insofar as women's work is concerned? Is there any evidence of garments that are related to a stomacher being obscured or otherwise? Lastly, Adam had mentioned some 3-5 years ago that the topic of 15th-17th century clothing is neglected. I would hope to open this topic up a little. Could anyone make suggestions as to how to open the topic up (books, websites) ?Thanks. It does seem that it should not be neglected and I am presenting the above as examples that it should not. Jackson Wiley Subject: ACADEMY : Ruffs on well dressed women in emblems From: Adam McLean Date: 2 Feb 2001 > Adam has also advised us that every symbol >is present in each emblem for a reason. Yes, but the first thing we must learn to do is to identify what is an alchemical symbol and what is merely a decorative element. If we see a dragon in a alchemical emblem we can be quite sure that this is an alchemical symbol. It seems quite unambiguous. But what about a tree? The tree is a key symbol in alchemy but not all trees in alchemical emblems are alchemical symbols - they are often merely decorative elements in the background. So it is not always obvious what is a symbol and what is not. The other thing we have to hold in mind is that the engravers of many alchemical emblems were not themselves alchemists or even the author of the image. They were craftsmen working for printing houses. They did not make a living just from engraving alchemical emblems but from providing emblematic imagery for a wide variety of books. Thus consider Matthieu Merian - a well known alchemical engraver who worked for the publishing house of Lucas Jennis. Some years ago a book was published on Merian which included illustrations of many of his engravings. Seeing this book it is obvious to me that he created much more material on general themes and only a small part of his output was devoted to illustrating alchemical works. Thus Merian's style was derived primarily from the then flourishing tradition of emblem books, and much of the way he depicted landscapes and the human figures and their costumes seems to be derived from his working within this tradition. These stylistic elements were incorporated in his general emblems work thus flowed over into his alchemical emblems. So it may be that before rushing to identify the ruff as an alchemical symbol, we might be better trying to see if this was used in his (or his contemporaries) depiction of the human figure. It may be merely a decorative device. An example of this is seen in the stylised 'Roman' or 'classical costume' seen in emblems of that time. This particular depiction seems to be mostly a convention of the time. (In much the same way as women in science fiction films today are usually depicted wearing tight fitting lycra costumes !) Attached are two examples of this stylised 'Roman' costume from the Balthazar Schwan engravings for Mylius and the other from the Book of Lambspring. So in order to deal with components of an emblem that are not unambiguously identified as alchemical symbols one really needs to view the emblem within its cultural context. This means we have to look at the wider emblem literature and the styles of illustration current at the time. So it is not always easy to identify a component as an alchemical symbol. I myself would just place the ruff in the category 'decorative element' though if one found some consistent use of the imagery which elaborated some insight into the structure of an alchemical emblem, I would be happy to promote this component to the category of 'alchemical symbol'. But for now I don't recognise it as such. Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Ruffs on well dressed women in emblems Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 From: C.M. Mackay I can only really speak for sixteenth century England, but certainly in the late Elizabethan period, ruffs and stomachers both extended pretty far down in society. Women of clothes-washing class would have worn ruffs, though I have my doubts about stomachers, as they severely restrict movement, making bending down very difficult. They were not, however always heavily decorated, and it is conceivable that women of all but the lowest class could have worn them, though not, I think, to wash clothes. The Elizabethan Costuming Page (http://www.dnaco.net/~aleed/corsets/general.html) is the best place I know for information on sixteenth century clothing - it includes lots of reproductions of contemporary pictures, including several of working class men and women (and despite its name, it is not restricted to Elizabethan England, but covers a much wider area and timescale.) There are also links to other web-sites and details of various publications. There is quite a lot on sumptuary laws - obviously an important starting place for any exploration of the symbolic meaning of Tudor dress. I hope this is of some help. Catriona Mackay Newnham College, Cambridge Subject: ACADEMY : Hautnorton From: Stanislas Klossowski de Rola Date: 3 Feb 2001 Dear Adam, You stated that "the work itself is ascribed to the Unknown Philosopher and Adept (LCS), but bibliographers of alchemy have not yet been able to identify this person." The above sentence strikes me as quite odd since the Unknown Philosopher is indeed Louis Claude de Saint-Martin. Could you please enlighten me further as to this supposed ascription? Stanislas Klossowski de Rola Subject: ACADEMY : Hautnorton From: Adam McLean Date: 3 Feb 2001 >"the work itself is ascribed to the Unknown Philosopher and >Adept (LCS), but bibliographers of alchemy have not yet >been able to identify this person." >The above sentence strikes me as quite odd since the >Unknown Philosopher is indeed Louis Claude de Saint-Martin. >Could you please enlighten me further as to this supposed >ascription? Dear Stanislas Klossowski de Rola, I should have said 'an Unknown Philosopher'. Louis Claude Saint-Martin could not have written this book published in 1752. As I understand it he was born in 1743, died in 1803. In any case there is a manuscript of the work in Yale, dated to 1735. In my edition of the Hermaphrodite child I wrote in my introduction : " The Hermaphroditische Sonn- und Mond-Kind was printed at Mainz in 1752. Although the text is relatively obscure and impenetrable, the power of the series of twelve engravings attracted people to this work, and the fascination of these images still remains with us today. The work was reprinted twenty seven years later in the well known German alchemical compendium Hermetisches A.B.C. issued in four volumes by Ringmacher at Berlin in 1778-9. The work itself is ascribed to the "Unknown Philosopher and Adept (L. C. S.)", but bibliographers of alchemy have not yet been able to identify this person. The title page further indicates that the work includes "explanations of verses by the famous Swedish Adept Norton". John Ferguson and other bibliographers take this to be a reference to Josaphat Friederich Hautnorton, the seventeenth-century alchemical writer of Der Verlangte Dritte Anfang der Mineralischen Dingen, Luycken, Amsterdam, 1657 which was written by "Sonn Sendivogii, genant I.F.H.S." This work became better known under the title Lucerna Salis Philosophorum, issued in Latin a year later by Betkius, Amsterdam, 1658. The historian of chemistry, Ole Borch, writing in the late 17th century, claims these works were written by Johann Harprech, the son of a professor at Tübingen. Later in the eighteenth century, Roth-Scholtz, the compiler of the vast German compendium, Deutsches Theatrum Chemicum, 1728, ascribes these works to Hautnorton, though indicating that the initials J.F.H.S. "may denote Johannes, Filius, Harprechti, Svecus". It seems unlikely that we can now unravel the authorship of the work, and from its structure we see that the different sections may have been written by different people. The work is divided into twelve sections each headed by an emblematic figure. The text of these sections begins with an 'explanation of the figure', followed by a short verse, a 'paragraph' with its 'explanation', and lastly a 'canon' or short verse with its 'explanation'. The title page of the work is entirely in sympathy with the view that the book takes the form of a series of images and related verses, to which commentaries have been added by later writers. Whether this is true, or that this is merely a device of the 18th century writer or publisher to give the work a spurious antiquity, requires a deep textual analysis of the work, which will not be undertaken in this present book. Perhaps some German scholar might some day be able to answer these questions as to its origins, and whether all the components of the work were written by the same author. I find the text coheres between the seemingly different components and in my commentary I will treat this work as a unified conception. " Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Ruffs on well dressed women in emblems From: Jackson Wiley Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2001 Just a word of thanks for the responses received. Adam, thank you for a response that is humorous, realistic (the practical aspects of printing and engraving the emblems had been neglected by me. This added information has greatly enriched my overview of the "finished products" - the books that were produced.) Also, the other information provided will help to keep me on track! Thanks also to C.M. Mackay. Your knowledge goes far beyond mere dictionary definitions and , along with Adam's response, has helped to open a whole new area to me, thus giving me a much broader overview to keep in mind. Thanks so much for the web site address! I have already printed out the main menu and scanned a few articles. This will give me a great start! Jackson Wiley Subject: ACADEMY : Forbidden Alchemy Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 From: C-M Edenborg I have often wondered why alchemy - with it's hubris and potentially subversive ambitions - didn't draw more attention from the juridical system in early modern Europe. I only know of a few legislations and cases of censorship (for example, the swedish king Karl XII prohibited the distribution of alchemical texts in the beginning of the 18th century). Now, I read in Fricks Die Erleuchteten about a law against alchemy in Vienna 1785. Does anyone know anything more specific on this case and where to read more about it? Does anyone know about other laws against alchemy during the 18th century? Best wishes, Carl-Michael Edenborg Subject: ACADEMY : Latin Translation Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 From: Michal Pober Dear Friends, I wonder if there is anyone in our circle who would be able and willing to undertake the translation into English, though French, German Spanish would also be of interest, of a shortish [less than 3 double-spaced pages] Latin text of alchemical recipes originating from the 15th century and reprinted in the 18th C? A long and complicated tale - aren't they all?? - but these recipes link Hynek Minsterbersky, the son of the Czech King George of Podebrady, to alchemy. They were recently discovered by Dr Lubos Antonin of the National Museum in Prague and have been authenticated and translated into Czech by Dr Vladimir Karpenko of the Dept. of Physical Chemistry of Charles University. Dr K presented a paper about them at our symposium last May in Kutna Hora [in the very building where Hynek was believed to have had his laboratory in the adjacent tower - and the premises which will shortly be used as part of the Alchemy Museum in Kutna Hora] and published an article about them in a Czech History of Science magazine last year [Dejiny Ved a Techniky]. We don't have a budget for the translation but can offer credit for the work, which will be published in various forms and a high-level membership of the Museum with certain priveleges! With best regards - and stand by for an announcement soon about the opening date of the Museum. Michal Pober Subject: ACADEMY : Forbidden Alchemy From: Michael Martin Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 Alchemy was outlawed in England during the Renaissance, not that the authorities were in hot pursuit. Mostly they were concerned with would-be alchemists shaving gold from coins and passing the coins off as real weights. John Poole did a little time for such an offense, I believe, and met Christopher Marlowe in gaol. Charles Nicholl, in The Chemical Theatre, suggests this meeting may have influenced Marlowe's Doctor Faustus. Hope this helps. Michael Subject: ACADEMY : Ripley scroll sold for £200,000 From: Adam McLean Date: 8 February 2001 A 17th century version of the Ripley Scroll was sold at Sotheby's auction house in London on 19th December 2000. This seems to be a version which has been in the hands of a family in England for some time. It was a previously unknown copy and this takes the count of scrolls to over 20. You can see images of the manuscript in the Sotheby's catalogue or on their web site. The person who drew up the catalogue did not identify it as a Ripley scroll but they included illustrations from the scroll it was easy for people to identify it as such. It is lot 1 in sale L00215 English literature and history 19th december 2000. http://www.sothebys.com/cgi-bin/osform.exe/lotservice?osforms_template=lotDetail.oft&LotOID=28|33669288&startSetIndex=1&Catalogue=Full The estimate was in the range £6,000 GBP - £8,000 GBP but it Sold for £201,250 GBP. This is a remarkable price for such an item. There must have been a real bidding battle between a few people who desparately wanted this manuscript . I am not sure who bought the manuscript. I had known about it before the auction and was interested to see what price it would fetch, but £200,000 has staggered me. It shows there is real interest in such emblematic alchemical material. The version seems very poor quality, unlike the early version which date back over a hundred years to the first decades of the 16th century. Now I wonder if I could get even a 200th of this price for my own coloured facsimile of one of the early versions ? Probably not ! ! ! Best wishes, Adam Subject: ACADEMY : King James and the golden rose From: Susanna Åkerman Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 In studying the Danish alchemist Olaus Borrichius Itinerarium 1660-1665 published by Brill, Leiden 1983 edited by H. D. Schepetem, vol. III p. 29 I have found a curious tale. Borrichius was in Oxford to see the alchemist/chemist Peter Stahl. Borrichius says after reporting a vist to the Templo Westermonasteriense, Oxford in June 1663 that: "The by him seen noble golden rose with the inscription Rex Jacobus, added on to the remarkable (singular) rose, was by him thought to have been contrived by the Fraternity of the Rosicrucians +, and of their sort of people many live today in England." "Visam sibi rosam nobilem auream cum inscriptione Regis Jacobi, et rosâ singulari additâ, illam credi sibi a Fratr: Ros: + elaboratam, ex eo hominum genere multos vivere hodie in Anglia." Thus here is a historical record of the golden rose, similar to the one conferred to initiates in modern day Rosicrucian orders. The connection to James highlights the Rosicrucian Christmas card given to James I by Michael Maier in 1611 and described by Adam McLean in an article. John Heydon was publishing his Rosicrucian pamphlets at the time in England, but perhaps this is a more genuine observation of Rosicrucians in discussions between two advanced alchemists/ chemists. I have also retraced my steps on the supposed distinction between the golden and rosy cross in Fludd. It is Paul Sedir, Histoire et doctrines des Rose Croix, Rouen 1932 p. 59-60 who claims this with a note to Fludd's Apologia compendiaria Fraternitatem de Rosea Crucis suspicionis et infamiae maculis aspersam veritatis quasi fluctibus abluens et abstergens, Leiden, 1616. Hereward Tilton has denied that it occurrs in that print or in Fludd's lengthier Tractatus apologeticus integritatem societatis de Rosea Cruce defendens. Leiden 1617. I am glad that I have actually read this in an Italian edition of Sedir and been mislead, and not merely listened to hearsay. If Tilton is right my statement on Fludd's distinction in Rose Cross Over the Baltic ought to be deleted. Yet this finding in Borrichius gives some background to legends spread among modern day Rosicrucians. Susanna Akerman Subject: ACADEMY : Ripley scroll sold for £200,000 Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 From: Catherine Fox-Anderson Dear Adam, I think your question is indeed interesting - who would be so interested in the document, and why? Is such information public, since the bidding is public? Catherine Subject: ACADEMY : Ripley scroll sold for £200,000 Date: Thu, 8 Feb 2001 From: Adam McLean Catherine Fox-Anderson wrote: >who would be so interested in the document, and why? >Is such information public, since the bidding is public? Unfortunately auction houses do not usually publish the names of the successful bidder. This is for obvious and understandable security reasons. Of course one immediately speculates that the buyer was a large US institution, but I have heard a rumour that it has not gone to the USA but to a European collector. Perhaps in time something will emerge about the new location of the manuscript. Adam McLean Subject: ACADEMY : Forbidden Alchemy Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 From: Deborah E. Harkness I inadvertently deleted the original query, but I have also found references in a John Dee manuscript to a man imprisoned at the Compter in London who taught him various secrets and also to Jo[achim] Gantz being visited by Clement Draper in the King's Bench prison. I wonder if doing these "prison interviews" was common in a period when prisoners were largely (if not entirely) dependent on the benevolence of others to get basic needs like food. Deborah Harkness Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2001 From: Tatiana Dolinina Greetings dear colleagues! I am a new member of the discussion group. To briefly introduce myself, I am a linguist coming from Minsk, Belarus, where I currently live. I am working towards a Ph.D. (an equivalent of, "Candidatskaya" to be more exact, for the Russian speaking audience if there is any), the dissertation entitled "Correlation of the Universal and Ethno-Individual via the Secondary Lingvo-Semiotic Code" (it is not as tricky as it sounds, the "secondary code" referring to the cognitive roots - or routes - of the metaphor and the allegory), presuming the Alchemy to be one the languages the Truth itself speaks. One facet of the work makes a theoretical research in Semiotics (which can be viewed upon as an interdisciplinary research on the junction of (cognitive) linguistics, (cognitive) psychology and philosophy (gnosiology) - if the academic audience be interested in that spectre of the detail), the other facet being formed by research on Alchemy as it is (semantics of the Alchemical texts), interpretatory to a certain extent, simultaneously producing the background material for the first. Coming to the questions: 1) I would wish to see a body of texts, which I would tentatively call "Prague block": texts on Alchemy written, translated, copied or in whatever way emerged and/or reemerged in Prague (and the vicinity) during the period of the 12th-15th centuries. Though I shall feel fairly happy about the textual reflection of the later high alchemical activity of 16th - beginning of 17th centuries, my principal interest at this stage is the epoch preceding the "active phase" of the Rudolfian era, the latter appearing captivating to me insofar as it must have collected and drawn to the surface at least in some portion the none the less valuable sources appeared and resident in Prague before. As far as I am aware a noticeably good amount of "library resources' went to Sweden as a result of the 30-year War but their further traces remain vague to me. What I am really looking for is to initially get an idea as precise as possible of what this "Prague block" covering 12-15 centuries (& 16-17 inclusive) could look like (be comprised of) and to what collections it has dissolved. Any hints or points to whatever resources with regard to the above are mostly welcomed. I shall greatly appreciate any comments you could make. 2) More specifically, have there any bibliographical monographs been written discussing the issue of the "Prague block" on any period(s) in the range 12th-17th centuries; or, alternatively, with a more conventional scholarly approach covering the philological or even historical aspect (say on Bohemian literature or based on a language/subject-matter principle etc.) that would among others touch upon the issue under question? 3) Does anybody happen to know if a translation into English of the following book has ever been done (I shall manage Czech but would prefer English): Otakar Zachar, O alchymii a èeských alchymistech, Praha 1911. I would be also thankful for other references to any books by the same author in any language. Thank you all in advance. Tatiana Dolinina Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 From: Rafal T. Prinke Dear Tatiana, > 3) Does anybody happen to know if a translation into > English of the following book has ever been done (I > shall manage Czech but would prefer English): > Otakar Zachar, O alchymii a èeských alchymistech, > Praha 1911. I am quite sure it has not been translated into any foreign language. > I would be also thankful for other references to any > books by the same author in any language. There were two important serialized articles by him in _Casopis Ceskeho Muzea_ (I can easily find the exact references if you do not know them). His only other book was not on alchemy but mesmerism or something similar - I do not remember at the moment but it was republished recently in Bohemia. Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague From: José Rodríguez Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 Dear Tatiana: Urszula Szulakowska and Barbara Obrist have some works on semiotics and retorical structures in the alchemical allegories. Concerning your third question, Zachar is a rare resource for me but some years ago I found a Zachar's book on National Library of France, collection "Tolbiac - Rez de jardin - Magasin", cote 8-R-19968: OTAKAR ZACHAR, (1904), "Rajmund Lullius. Praktyka Testamentu (L. 1500). Z rukopisu klásterní bibliotheky na Strahove, s úvodem a vusvetlivkami vydal Otakar Zachar", nákladem Vlastním, Praze, In-16, 153 pp. In this book he translates into Czech the second part of the "Testamentum" attributed to Raimond Lull. I think it is a rare book because there are no references in Michela Pereira works on Lull. Good luck, José Rodríguez Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 From: Michal Pober Dear Tatiana, I am involved in various activities relating to Alchemy in the Czech Lands and can perhaps point you in some helpful directions, though I don't have the expertise to provide direct answers to your questions. Firstly, for a recent comprehensive overview of Alchemy in the Czech Lands I would highly recommend "Opus Magnum", published by Trigon Press in 1997. This has a primary Czech text with an English translation at the back. This is both a record of an astounding exhibition held in Prague in that year to co-incide with the huge Rudolf II exhibition and will also introduce you to the themes and subjects in which you are interested, with copious references, plus the current important players in the Czech alchemical world who are almost all represented. Its relatively expensive in Czech terms at 1871 or 1781 Czech Crowns [I always forget which, but roughly $50] but its value is priceless.. >As far as I am >aware a noticeably good amount of "library resources' >went to Sweden as a result of the 30-year War but >their further traces remain vague to me. Though many important libraries did disappear abroad, also to Holland, there are still many important books and collections here, plus important archives. Two particularly notable libraries are those of the Strahov Monastery in Prague and Mnichovo Hradiste Castle some 70 km. north of Prague. The National Library and the National Museum Library plus some of the other Castle Libraries also contain important alchemical manuscripts and printed books. >What I am >really looking for is to initially get an idea as >precise as possible of what this "Prague block" >covering 12-15 centuries (& 16-17 inclusive) could >look like (be comprised of) and to what collections it >has dissolved. >Any hints or points to whatever resources with regard >to the above are mostly welcomed. I shall greatly >appreciate any comments you could make. Regarding dates.. paradoxically, though Alchemy became an extremely important activity in the Czech Lands the first records are quite late. According to the relevant Opus Magnum article the first activity was at the beginning of the 14th C and the first written mention in 1394. Some detailed records of the contents of former libraries exist. I believe that there is a catalogue, for example, of Petr Vok's library [an astounding 30,000 volumes] a large part of which probably was inherited from his brother Wilhelm Rozmberk. Queen Christina of Sweden's library has been mentioned a number of times in previous messages as a destination of many books from the Czech lands. Perhaps you will find those references in the Academy Archives or perhaps someone like Susanna Akerman will be willing to address this subject. Leiden also is the location of other significant former Czech collections but I personally don't know the details of what is there or where it came from. >2) More specifically, have there any bibliographical >monographs been written discussing the issue of the >"Prague block" on any period(s) in the range 12th-17th >centuries; or, alternatively, with a more conventional >scholarly approach covering the philological or even >historical aspect (say on Bohemian literature or based >on a language/subject-matter principle etc.) that >would among others touch upon the issue under >question? >3) Does anybody happen to know if a translation into >English of the following book has ever been done (I >shall manage Czech but would prefer English): > >Otakar Zachar, O alchymii a èeských alchymistech, >Praha 1911. Unfortunately not. >I would be also thankful for other references to any >books by the same author in any language. One recent discovery of an alchemical manuscript from the late 15th C to which I can refer you relates to Hynek of Podebrady, the son of the Czech king Jiri of Podebrady. This information was published by Dr Vladimir Karpenko in the jounal "DVT - dejiny ved a techniky" last year. [cislo 2] Currently, thanks to members of this Academy the original Latin manuscript is being translated into English and the Czech article will also be translated soon. I can put you in touch directly with people much more knowledgeable than myself if you would like to contact me directly. Some of them will be obvious from "Opus Magnum". I feel reluctant to publish directly contact information for extremely busy people even on this august list though obviously there are enough clues above to short-cut some of the labyrinthine tangles to dscovering them. Finally, in the next few days I will be publishing to this list details of a programme in Central Bohemia in June which will include a week or more devoted to Czech Alchemy. Apologies for the sketchiness of the above; all that I have time for right now, but I hope that it will provide some help. Conversely I will be interested to hear of the fruits of your undertaking. With best regards, Michal Pober Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague From: Susanna Åkerman Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 Tatiana Dolinina wrote: What I am really looking for is to initially get an idea as precise as possible of what this "Prague block" covering 12-15 centuries (& 16-17 inclusive) could look like (be comprised of) and to what collections it has dissolved. Reply: The Prague collection looted by the Swedes in 1648 was given by Queen Christina of Sweden to her librarian Isaac Vossius in 1654 and are now in Leiden and are described in P. C. Boeren, Codices Vossiani Chymici. Bibliotheca Universitatis Leidensis. Codices manuscripti xvii. Leiden 1975. The collection can be found at Adam's site, see link below. Note however that some of the material are from other looted sites in Germany, Poland and Bohemia. Boeren sorts it out. http://www.levity.com/alchemy/almss30.html We have discussed Boeren's findings before on the academy on the 28th of September 1999, http://www.levity.com/alchemy/a-archive_sep99.html Susanna Akerman Subject: ACADEMY : Chymia and the Gold- und Rosenkreutz From: Hereward Tilton Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 Can anyone tell me if the members of the 18th century masonic Gold- und Rosenkreutz used the term chymia (alternatively chemia) or alchymia (alchemia) or both? I notice that 'chymia' is used in Richter's 'Warhaffte und vollkommene Bereitung des Philosophischen Steins'; also Kirchweger uses it in his 'Goldene Kette Homers' (1723); I don't know when this usage dies out, though. I imagine some time in the middle of the 18th century, but... How about in Jolyfief's 'Compaß der Weisen'? And did the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia only use the term 'alchemy' in the nineteenth century I realise its a tough question, but any info on the practice of alchemy within later Rosicrucian circles would also be great (outside of that contained in the work of McIntosh, with which I am already acquainted). Many thanks, Hereward Tilton Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 From: Tatiana Dolinina Dear José > Urszula Szulakowska and Barbara Obrist have some > works on semiotics and rhetorical structures in the >alchemical allegories. Thank you for mentioning this, I am always alert to linguistic approaches. If you happen to have at hand more exact references I shall be thankful, otherwise please do not bother, I would manage. > Concerning your third question, Zachar is a rare > resource for me but some years ago I found a > Zachar's book in National Library of France, Thank you. I know the source. Though I did not really expect there to be only one half of it. Zachar translated from Latin and published some alchemical texts at the dawn of the 20th century - this is why I am interested. Regards, Tatiana Dolinina Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2001 From: Tatiana Dolinina Dear Rafal, > I am quite sure it has not been translated into any > foreign language. Thanks - saves me time for searching. > There were two important serialized articles by him > in _Casopis Ceskeho Muzea_ (I can easily find the > exact references if you do not know them). This does sound promising to me (and might be exactly what I was hoping for from this side). Does the "Casopis..." refer to the "Narodni Muzeum" in Prague? (Did he work there - in the museum and its library I mean?) Would you please give me the references if it is really not so difficult for you to get them. Many thanks & kindest regards. Tatiana Dolinina Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 From: Rafal T. Prinke Dear Tatiana, > This does sound promising to me (and might be exactly > what I was hoping for from this side). Does the > "Casopis..." refer to the "Narodni Muzeum" in Prague? Yes. In fact at that time it was called _Casopis Musea Kralovstvi Ceskeho_. The two articles I mentioned are: 1. Z dejin alchymie v Cechach, CCM 1899-1900 (4 parts), devoted to Bavor ml. Rodovsky z Hustiran and his translation of the parable of Bernard of Treviso. 2. Rudolf II. a alchymiste, CCM 1912-1913 (3 parts) He wrote many other articles in various journals, mostly devoted to the physical side of alchemy. > (Did he work there - in the museum and its library I > mean?) I don't think so. He was a chemical engineer and I believe he lived in Kladno (where the Lull book was published at his own expense). He also announced (in article 2 above and other places) a full length monograph of Michael Sendivogius (of special interest to me) as being "at the printers" but it seems that it has never been published, probably because of the War. His papers are in the collections of Literarni Archiv Pamatniku Narodniho Pismenictvi in Prague. But the Sendivogius monograph is not among them, as far as I could ascertain! Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Chymia and the Gold- und Rosenkreutz From: William S. Aronstein Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 Dear Mr. Tilton, Although perhaps not directly related to your concerns on usage in the XVIIIth and XIXth centuries, you might be interested in an article published in 1998 in Early Science and Medicine (volume 3, pages 32-65) by William Newman and Lawrence Principe: "Alchemy vs. Chemistry: The etymological origins of a historiographic mistake. They show that until the end of the XVIIth century, the terms "alchemy" and "chemistry" were used more or less interchangeably, and that the earliest differentiation between "chymia" and "alchymia," by textbook writers such as Lemery, was based on a misapprehension regarding the Arabic article, "al." Respectfully William Aronstein Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 From: Tatiana Dolinina Dear Michal, > and can perhaps point you in some helpful directions, I feel very much obliged for the directions you have pointed. > Firstly, for a recent comprehensive overview of > Alchemy in the Czech Lands > I would highly recommend "Opus Magnum", published by > Trigon Press in 1997. Do you know if it is still obtainable - and how? > Apologies for the sketchiness of the above; all that > I have time for right > now, but I hope that it will provide some help. Thank you very much indeed! (I did not really count on getting a smooth and thorough picture immediately - and you have added to it some very colourful strokes) > Conversely I will be interested to hear of the fruits > of your undertaking. I shall be happy to share. Best wishes. Tatiana Dolinina Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 From: Tatiana Dolinina Dear Rafal, > He also announced > (in article 2 above and other places) a full length > monograph of Michael Sendivogius Oh I see now where the 'rumour' comes from! (I had only one exact reference to a Latin (translated to Czech) source published by him apart from the Lull one, everything else remaining unclear and more of rumoured about - and was unable to get the ends). > But the Sendivogius monograph is not among them, > as far as I could ascertain! But it MUST exist somwhere - as long as it went as far as the printers' hands. Thank you for all the references Kindest regards, Tatiana Dolinina Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 From: Rafal T. Prinke Dear Tatiana, > Oh I see now where the 'rumour' comes from! (I had > only one exact reference to a Latin (translated to > Czech) source published by him apart from the Lull > one, everything else remaining unclear and more of > rumoured about - and was unable to get the ends). Among his papers there is an unpublished translation (by Eugenius Muska under Zachar's direction) of Sendivogius's _Novum Lumen Chymicum_ which was to be included in the monograph (sygn. 37 N 63). > > But the Sendivogius monograph is not among them, > > as far as I could ascertain! > > But it MUST exist somwhere - as long as it went as far > as the printers' hands. Several generations of Sendivogius researchers tried to find it without success. I still hope it will be found - but I am afraid that good old Svejk may have used the paper for quite a different purpose if the War had started before any copy was printed :-) Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : King James and the golden rose Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 From: Michael Srigley Dear Susanna, Congratulations on your most interesting find in Borrichius. You mention that he met Peter Stahl in Oxford, but I suspect that the phrase 'templo Westmonastiensi' does not refer to a church in Oxford, butto Westminster Abbey in London. After leaving Oxford, Borrichius returned to London and again visited Stahl and Poleman who were working together in an alchemical laboratory at a strange place called first 'Siurdetz' (p. 22) but which becomes recognizable in the name 'Shore-detz'(p. 61), that is, Shoreditch. There is a further link with the Rosicrucians in Borrichius's item 2 of the information he received from Peter Stahl. There he mentions a certain "De Bois, an illustrious chymist hanged by Cardinal Richelieu, whom Stahl knew and who was believed by him to have been a true artist painstaking in his work". Stahl goes on to describe his alchemical processes. A note in Hartlib's Ephemerides gives further information about the identity of the hanged Adept: "Clod[ius's] Adept hath imparted unto Clod[ius, Hartlib's son-in-law] a MS of the French Adept[']s (wch after hee had made good a Trial] was hanged for it by the Card. Richelieu. This MS is the clearest Revelation that ever hath beene made written in a most rational and philsosophical straine. F.C. Clodius will mightily repeat it. The said Adept is mightily hunted after by [Thomas] Vaughan. It appeares by this Adept that hee is a member of a Society and that one of them lives in Lincoln-shire having a peculiar Motto or Tessera whereby they are recognized." (Ephemerides (1659), 29.8.6a). Later entries in Hartlib's Journal reveal that the name of the adept hanged by Richelieu was "Du-boy or Du-boys", and that "A Knight in Lincoln-shire S. Brownloe is held a Rosaecrucian and hath the Tesseram of Antilia" (Ephem. (1659), 29-8.7a and (2 April 1660) 29.8.12a). It would seem then that an alchemical Rosicrucian society was in existence by at least 1659. Thomas Vaughan published the Fama and Confessio into English in 1652, and was a reputed Rosicrucian. I have identified a prominent Lincolnshire family with the name Brownlow but have not yet found an S. Brownlow, knight. Any clues anyone? Perhaps Peter Stahl, who was giving a course of lectures in chemistry at Oxford in 1663, was also involved in this Andreaean-type Society. Is it possible that your golden rose with a peculiar rose added to it by the Roscrucians was the actual Rosicrucian 'motto or tessera' in the possession of the adept, S. Browloe? Hoping this will be of some help, Michael Subject: ACADEMY : Maier and the Gold- und Rosenkreutz From: Hereward Tilton Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 Thanks for your reply, Mr. Aronstein. In fact it was Principe and Newmans' work which led me to this question. Today I was looking at a work of Hermann Fictuld, 'Des Längst gewünschten und versprochenen Chymisch-Philosophischen Probier-Steins Erste Classe, In welcher der wahren und ächten Adeptorum und anderer würdig erfundenen Schrifften Nach ihrem innerlichen Gehalt und Werth vorgestellt und entdecket worden'. The edition I was looking at dated to 1784, i.e. when the Gold- und Rosenkreutz was at the zenith of its power during the reign of King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia, who I have heard was also a member of the order. Fictuld's work was first published in the 1730's, and it uses the terms chymia and alchymia interchangeably (not that this has much bearing on the thesis of Principe and Newman). I was also interested in the reception of Count Michael Maier's work in later Rosicrucian circles, if he figured at all; the work of Fictuld in question makes mention of Stolcius' Chymisches Lust-Gartlein (Viridarium Chymicum), but gives Maier as the author (clearly because the emblems of Stolcius' work stem in part from Maier's books); he also makes a point of excluding Maier from his list of adepts, and states that although Maier was a great lover of alchemy 'his' Chymisches Lust-Gartlein throws the alchemical figures together in a nonsensical way. Fictuld goes on to say that the real adepts represented by the Chymisches Lust-Gartlein are those who first invented the 'figures', i.e. the medieval authors from whose works the emblems ultimately derive. While Fictuld's bad opinion of Maier in this work might stem from his mis-attribution of the authorship of the Chymisches Lust-Gartlein, does anyone have any idea if Maier was generally viewed in a bad light by the eighteenth century Rosicrucians? Or if they just didn't care about him? Maier was an important source for the 17th century English reception of Rosicrucianism by Ashmole, Vaughan and others, particularly through his Themis Aurea, but later Rosicrucianism seems to pay him scant regard. Can anyone set me straight on this point? Cheers Hereward Tilton Subject: ACADEMY : Johann Arndt and Alchemy Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 From: Eugene Beshenkovsky Dear Michael, You reminded me about Johann Arndt and Alchemy. His works are prominent in the 18th century Rosicrucian library I am dealing with. Not only his theological works, but also his explanation of Khunrath's four figures. Besides that a good description of one of his alchemical recipies can be found in Siegmund Guldenfalk's book Die himmlische und hermetische Perle; oder Die gvttliche und naturliche Tinktur der Weisen. Herausgegeben von Siegmund Heinrich Guldenfalk, Furstlich Hessendarmstddtischen Oberlandkommissar, als einem Schuler Hermetischen Geheimnissen. Frankfurt und Leipzig: J.G. Fleischer,1785. (III. Abtheilung. - Anhang einiger wahrhaften hermetischen Ausarbeitungen. - Johann Arnds Process den er von dem Baron von Winterstein erhalten hat. - Mysterium magnum Naturae, oder ein grosses Geheimnis der Natur, ex Fonte universali. - Wahrer Process der Johann Arnds. ). Could be mythology but looks genuine to me. There could be more in another book by the same author where he escribes more than one hundred recepies. I have not seen that one. Gardner in his Biblioteca Rosicruciana lists Zweytes Millenium as a printed book. Besides that my catalog lists 'Opera Arndti' which I have not been able to find anywhere. Hope it is useful, Eugene Beshenkovsky Subject: ACADEMY : Mrs. Wolesley of Oxford Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 From: Deborah E. Harkness Dear All: Has anyone (especially Lauren?) come across Mrs. Wolesley of Oxford, who appears to have taught William Withy some alchemical processes in the late 16th or early 17th century? I came across descriptioins of these processes yesterday, and I have a vague recollection that she was mentioned once on the Academy. Thanks in advance for the help, Deb Harkness Subject: ACADEMY : Opus Magnum Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 From: Michal Pober Dear Tatiana, 'Opus Magnum' is still available from the publisher, Trigon Books, Umelecka 2, 160 00 Praha 6. You can write to Vladislav Zadrobilek in Czech or German. Exactly how he handles individual foreign sales I'm not sure, though as I stated the Czech price is either 1781 or 1871 Czech Crowns - approx $50 at current exchange rates. I have passed on a number of copies myself at different times in different ways and am willing to continue to do so but I request $80 by International Money Order, American Express or Thomas Cook to cover all the ancillary aspects - fetching, carrying, packaging, customs declarations, insurance, bank charges, etc. The only international book dealer who handles it charges $185 for it, plus shipping. Best Regards, Michal Pober Subject: ACADEMY : Maier and the Gold- und Rosenkreutz Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 From: Eugene Beshenkovsky Dear Mr. Tilton, > I was also interested in the reception of Count Michael > Maier's work in later Rosicrucian circles, if he figured at all; > the work of Fictuld in question makes mention of Stolcius' > Chymisches Lust-Gartlein (Viridarium Chymicum), but > gives Maier as the author Both, Michael Maier and Stolcius (under Maier's name) are present, and quite prominent. Viridarium Chymicum (under Maier's name) was translated into Russian and exists in manuscripts. Both chemia (alchemia) and chymia (alchymia) are present as well as Chemie (Alchemie) and Chymie (Alchymie). Latin words were usually printed in different types. Alternative definition for Alchemy was 'höhere Chemie' (I believe). Regarding Fictuld ... was it Ferguson who said that there is no way to please Fictuld? All the best, Eugene Beshenkovsky Subject: ACADEMY : Mrs. Wolesley of Oxford From: Penny Bayer Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 Dear Deb Harkness, This is fascinating. Would you be prepared to share a little more about the source, the sort of process Mrs Wolesley is teaching, and what sort of level of education may be suggested (ie does she name sources, introduce philosophic ideas)? Best regards Penny Bayer Subject: ACADEMY : The rose as tessera From: Susanna Åkerman Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 Dear Michael, How interesting with your finding. However, if the tessera was a rose, which seems natural, one must also consider Spinoza's signet ring with a rose and the text "caute" - beware. His Tractatus theologico philosophicus was printed in 1670 under the false flag "Hamburg apud Henricum Künrath" that has been seen as an allusion to Heinrich Khunrath. See Paul Arnold, Histoire des Rose-Croix 1955. Yet, the Bibliotheca Hermetica has put up Spinoza's work for sale in December at Sotheby's so they probably no longer believe in any connection. I am also reminded of Ben Jonsons Fortunate isles and their union (1624)describing a dialogue between Merefool and Jophiel, an airy spirit of Jupiter on the Rose Cross ending with "There's your Order. (He gives him a rose) You will have your collar sent you ere't be long." Clearly there is more to piece together on the Antilia and the presence of Rosicrucianism in Britain beyond that of Elias Ashmole, Robert Moray, Thomas Vaughan and the Scots George Erskine and David Lindsay. Hope someone puts him/herself to the task. Perhaps you are doing something of the sort? Susanna Akerman Subject: ACADEMY : Mrs. Wolesley of Oxford Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 From: Lauren Kassell Sorry Deb, I've not come across her -- but then we know almost nothing about Forman's Oxford days. Lauren Kassell Subject: ACADEMY : Article on Renaissance Alchemy From: Nancy Bell Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2001 Hello all.... There is an article on Renaissance Alchemy in this month's issue of LAPIS (issue 13; 2/01) which is published by the New York Open Center. The author is Joscelyn Godwin who teaches at Colgate University. Also of note is that Godwin's latest publication is the first complete English translation of the Hypnerotomachia Poliphill (1499) by Francesco Colonna. LAPIS was recently named the winner of the Alternative Press Award presented by Utne Reader. For what it may be worth. I found the article very interesting. Nancy Bell Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 From: Tatiana Dolinina Dear Susanna, Thank you very much for the links you have provided, they are more than helpful. I have a number of questions of practical character with rwgard to the Leiden-based alchemical sources coming initially from Prague, which I hope you could inform me about: 1) If I have understood it correctly, 'Codices Vossiani' are kept in the library of Leiden University?? If not, could you please give the exact name of the institution. (Any other collections in Leiden where any of the texts from this portion of Prague inheritance could be possibly placed?) 2) Are the texts open to general public? If they are not easily accessible, who is considered the owner (the University I suppose)? And in that case do you know who is in position (what institution I mean and from what level, not personalia) to authorise an access and on what basis? Thank you. Best wishes, Tatiana Dolinina Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 From: Tatiana Dolinina Dear Rafal, >Among his papers there is an unpublished translation >(by Eugenius Muska under Zachar's direction) of >Sendivogius's _Novum Lumen Chymicum_ which was to >be included in the monograph (sygn. 37 N 63). A translation of this work by Sendivogius was published by Russian Martinists in 18 c. Do you know something about the "Dialogue between the Alchemist, Mercury and the Nature" added as a supplement to the "Novum Lumen..."? >I still hope it will >be found - but I am afraid that good old Svejk may >have used the paper for quite a different purpose >if the War had started before any copy was printed :-) Ironically, I had the same thought, but I suspected the publishers. :-) Kindest regards, Tatiana Dolinina Subject: ACADEMY : Seal of the Rosicrucian Fraternity From: Hereward Tilton Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 Dear Academy, Thank you for all your information. I have another question: does anyone know the origins of the seal of the Rosicrucian Fraternity given in Maier's 'Themis Aurea' (1618)? Although difficult to describe, for those of you who are not acquainted with it there are the letters R, O, S, Æ, and C placed in the following pattern:    Æ      R        M        S    C      O A connecting line runs upwards from the top of the O to the bottom of the stalk of the R, then downwards to the top of the S, then upwards to the Æ, then downwards to the top of the C (i.e. the connecting line looks like an M). Not sure if this will be very clear, but I would be interested to know if anyone has seen this in a pre-1618 source. Cheers Hereward Tilton Picture of seal attached. "RCseal.gif" Subject: ACADEMY : Tartar From: Ahmad Hassan Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 Dear Colleagues, I am trying to trace the history of tartar. What is the origin of the word? when was tartar it first used? and what were its main uses. I read that it was used sometimes along with saltpeter as a fluxing material to help in the melting of metals. Any elaboration along with references will be greatly appreciated. A. AL-Hassan Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 From: Rafal T. Prinke Dear Tatiana, > >Among his papers there is an unpublished translation > >(by Eugenius Muska under Zachar's direction) of > >Sendivogius's _Novum Lumen Chymicum_ which was to > >be included in the monograph (sygn. 37 N 63). > > A translation of this work by Sendivogius was > published by Russian Martinists in 18 c. Yes, Eugene Beshenkovsky and Gleb Butuzov told me about two Russian translations (Lopukhin's, Moscow 1785 and anonymous, Moscow 1781). This is a wonderful list! > Do you know something about the "Dialogue between the > Alchemist, Mercury and the Nature" added as a > supplement to the "Novum Lumen..."? It was first published separately Colonia 1607 and had several independent reprints later. There were at least 41 publications of it before 1800. Stanton Linden had an article in 'Ambix' some years ago (and I have not read it yet!) showing how this work influenced Ben Jonson's masque 'Mercury Vindicated from the Alchemists at Court'. Both texts are on Adam's site. Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Some questions on Alchemy in medieval Prague From: Susanna Åkerman Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 Dear Tatiana, The Prague texts are in Leiden University library, special collections and are open to the public. See their homepage http://www.leidenuniv.nl/ub/ By the way www.libdex.com is a great searching machine for virtually every library homepage and catalogues. Search by country or name. Susanna Subject: ACADEMY : Tetrahedron Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 From: Tatiana Dolinina Dear colleagues, I have a specific question, addressed maybe to professional (al)chemists or crystallogrpahers: What substances occurring in nature have tetrahedron for crystal lattice? References to the resources with the practical sort of information, including those on www, will do. Thousands of thanks! Tatiana Dolinina Subject: ACADEMY : Tetrahedron From: Jesse C Bunch Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 Tatiana, Crystals with a tetrahedral lattice usually have a gross shape of a tetrahedron. Crystals of this nature include diamonds and magnetite - the iron ore which is magnetic. Symbologically, the tetrahedron represents one solution to the problem of the three and the four (four triangular faces). Jesse C Bunch Subject: ACADEMY : Tetrahedron From: Brenton Fletcher Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 Tatiana, "The silicates are the largest, the most interesting and the most complicated class of minerals by far. Approximately 30% of all minerals are silicates and some geologists estimate that 90% of the Earth's crust is made up of silicates. With oxygen and silicon the two most abundant elements in the earth's crust silicates abundance is no real surprise. The basic chemical unit of silicates is the (SiO4) tetrahedron shaped anionic group with a negative four charge (-4). The central silicon ion has a charge of positive four while each oxygen has a charge of negative two (-2) and thus each silicon-oxygen bond is equal to one half (1/2) the total bond energy of oxygen. This condition leaves the oxygens with the option of bonding to another silicon ion and therefore linking one (SiO4) tetrahedron to another and another, etc.. The complicated structures that these silicate tetrahedrons form is truly amazing. They can form as single units, double units, chains, sheets, rings and framework structures. The different ways that the silicate tetrahedrons combine is what makes the Silicate Class the largest, the most interesting and the most complicated class of minerals." That was taken from the following web page. http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/class.htm Start counting grains of sand! Regards, Brenton Fletcher. Subject: ACADEMY : The rose as tessera Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 From: Michael Srigley Dear Susanna, Nice to hear from you. Yes, I've been doing some work on Thomas Vaughans alchemical career and his association with the semi-monastic 'Christian Learned Society' established in about 1649 by Thomas Henshaw, at his home at Kensington (then semi-rural) in London. Closely connected with this Andraean project were Samuel Hartlib and Dr Robert Child. Information on this and other such societies in England is given in Donald R. Dickson's 'The Tessera of Antilia' (Brill, 1998), 186 ff. I'm giving a paper on Vaughan's alchemy and his reputation down to the end of the 17th century at this year's Vaughan Colloquium in South Wales at the end of April. If you (or anyone else) would like a copy, let me know. Best wishes to you, Michael Subject: ACADEMY : Tartar From: Peter Kelly Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 In "Eighteenth century chemistry as it relates to Alchemy (1771)" by Encyclopedia Brittania, on page 10, Tartar is mentioned "...from this conjunction of the vitriolic acid with a fixed alkali there results another sort of neutral salt, which is called arcanum duplicatum, sal de duobus: and vitriolated tartar, because one of the fixed alkalis most in use is called salt of tartar." You might also be interested in Fulcanelli's book "The Dwellings of the Philosophers" Fulcanelli mentions "Tartar" in a list of which he says all mean the same thing. This list includes: Our subject, Mirror of the art, The stone of the philosophers, Old man, Antimony, Tartar, Black dragon covered with scales, Daughter of Saturn, etc. He also mentions Tartar near the end of his book In relation to potassium carbonate, and saltpeter, and also "... the salt of Tartar regarded as the substance, or one of the composing elements of the secret fire" Peter Kelly Subject: ACADEMY : Tetrahedron From: Jesse Bunch Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 Tatiana, While counting grains of sand may be a useful endeavour, as I recall most sand is silica SO2 (not silicate) which has a different crystalline structure. Another name for silica is quartz - usually in the form of long pointed hexagonal crystals. Some forms of black sand are magnetite which as I mentioned before has a octahedral crystals which probably denotes a tetrahedral crystalline structure. Jesse Bunch Subject: ACADEMY : The rose as tessera Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 From: Rafal T. Prinke Michael Srigley wrote: > I'm giving a paper on Vaughan's > alchemy and his reputation down to the end of the 17th > century at this year's Vaughan Colloquium in South Wales > at the end of April. If you (or anyone else) would like a copy, > let me know. I would certainly be glad to be able to read it. BTW: Swift in _A Tale of a Tub_ (Section V) mentiones _Anthroposophia Theomagica_ and has the following footnote: A treatise written about fifty years ago, by a Welsh gentleman of Cambridge; his name, as I remember, was Vaughan, as appears by the answer to it writ by the learned Dr. Henry More; it is a piece of the most unintelligible fustian, that, perhaps, was ever published in any language. Best regards, Rafal Subject: ACADEMY : Tetrahedron Date: Sat, 24 Feb 2001 From: Tatiana Dolinina Brenton, Oh, what abundance, who could imagine - makes me happy. I had enquired professional chemists here, including theoreticians specialised in crystallography - to be assured that a number of homonymous subtances must definitely exist, with a disappointing lack of examples. And the monographs on crystallography i've got, widely elaborating on the theory failed to produce examples, at least to be easily picked up from the text. Thank you for the link. > some geologists estimate that 90% of > the Earth's crust is made up of silicates. Does it follow that about 90% of existing minerals have tetrahedral lattice - if you are aware??? I mean, can the tetrahedral lattice be considered the most frequently (even if not making full 90% but to a degree approaching the percentage) occurring crystal lattice on the earth? From my background I can't easily see if this statement can be true. Or, to put it differently - Do all silicates necessarily have tetrahedral lattice? - > The basic chemical unit of silicates is the (SiO4) > tetrahedron shaped anionic group or elements supplementing the 'basic unit' can actually change the shape of the lattice?? > Start counting grains of sand! I have started. When I've got a good collection, I will show you. Tatiana Dolinina Subject: ACADEMY : Tartar From: William S. Aronstein Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 Dear Mr. Al-Hassan, Your inquiry into the origin of the term "tartar," and the role of this substance is very thought-provoking. The dictionaries I have at hand trace the word "tartar" back to the medieval Greek "tartaron," which they report as otherwise obscure. Perhaps the word derives from "Tartary," an area in the marches between Europe and Asia once occupied by the "Tartars," more correctly, perhaps, "Tatars," part of which is now the Tatarstan region of Russia, whose capital is Kazan. Tartaric acid has a long and interesting history in chemistry. It is a dicarboxylic acid that exhibits the interesting property of being soluble both in water and in non-polar organic solvents, such as ether. It was known in ancient times, with the free acid first identified in 1769 by Scheele. Potassium ditartrate is abundant in many plants and fruits, notably in grapes, and is cast off by wine as it ages. The tartar can be recovered from the inside of the barrels in which wine has aged. The sediments are heated and neutralized with calcium hydroxide to precipitate calcium tartrate; the free acid is then released by the action of sulfuric acid. The chemistry of tartaric acid was investigated by Pasteur on behalf of the French wine industry. The acid exists in chiral enantiomers -- that is, its molecules can be either right-handed or left-handed. This handedness persists in the crystals that tartar forms, and Pasteur was able to separate right-handed from left-handed crystals using a magnifying glass, tweezers, and considerable patience. He then showed that solutions of the enantiomers would polarize light. This was the foundation of modern stereochemistry. Tartar has many common household and industrial uses. Cream of tartar (potassium hydrogen tartrate) is used in cooking, baking, and candy making. Rochelle salt (potassium sodium tartrate) is used in silvering mirrors, processing cheese, electronics manufacturing, and in plating metals with gold or silver. Tartar emetic (potassium antimony tartrate) has been used as an anti-helminthic drug, as well as an emetic, and dyeing mordant. In discovering the mechanism of action of tartar emetic as an antiparasitic, my revered teacher, the late Professor Ernest Bueding, first proposed the existence of iso-enzymes -- different macromolecules catalyzing an identical chemic reaction. Thus, tartar has a long and noble history in modern chemistry. As Mr. Kelly has noted in a previous reply to your questions, tartar appears to play an important role in the alchemical processes described by the Adept Fulcanelli and his commentators. It is possible that tartaric acid is also involved in the work depicted in the "Mutus Liber," and in the work described by Philalethes in the "Shut Palace." Good luck in your researches. William Aronstein Subject: ACADEMY : Tetrahedron From: Jesse Bunch Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 > Do all silicates necessarily have tetrahedral lattice? - While the SiO4 anion is the "basic chemical unit" of silicates, the crystal lattice structure and shape of the crystals are usually not tetrahedral. For more detail, check out "Chemistry - The Central Science" by Theodore L. Brown and H. Eugene LeMay, Jr. QD31.2B78, ISBN 0-13-128769-9. Jesse Bunch Subject: ACADEMY : 'The Day C' in the Fama From: Michael Martin Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 Friends, Has anyone run across any suggestions for what "the day C." might be. This is, of course, to be found in the Fama Fraternitatis. I have seen a suggestion for Christmas (Christopher Bamford) which seems close to arbitrary. I also recall seeing the feast of Corpus Christi as a candidate, which makes sense alchemically, but perhaps not in the spirit of the Reformation which overshadows the Fama. Any thoughts? Michael Martin Subject: ACADEMY : 'The Day C' in the Fama Date: Sun, 25 Feb 2001 From: M. Evans >Has anyone run across any suggestions for what >"the day C." might be. The Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite Masons have interpreted it as "Maundy Thursday" (the Thursday before Easter). All 18* "Knights Rose+Croix" are required to assemble on that evening, or send notice of why they are absent. Subject: ACADEMY : Soluna labs Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 From: Michal Pober Dear Friends, Does anyone have a contact address, preferably with phone, fax, email, for Soluna Labs. Thank you, Michal Pober Subject: ACADEMY : Amaranthe and Golden fleece From: Susanna Åkerman Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 Dear Academy, I have found the classical roots of Queen Christina's Amaranthe Order of 1653 that probably is alluded to in the design of Palombara's Porta Magica of 1680 in Rome, when it is said on a plate nearby, now lost, VILLAE IANUAM TRANANDO RECLUDENS IASON OBTINET LOCUPLES VELLUS MEDEAE, that is: Passing by opening the door of the villa, Jason obtained the rich fleece of Medea. The Amaranth Order, has a blazon of intertwined double A:s in the middle of a wreath of evergreen amaranth-leaves that do not fade in winter. In a Christian context we find the concept in "the crown of glory 'never to fade' (amarantinou)" in 1 Peter 5:3-5 at the time of the end when "the chief shepard shall be manifested". But the esoteric/pagan origin of this tale is in the Argonautica by Apollonius Rhodius where it is told of the search for the Golden Fleece and how on Medea's advice Jason gets a spell from the moon and earth goddess Hecate, who is described: "All the meadows trembled at her step; and the nymphs that haunt the marsh and the river shrieked, all who dance around that mead of Amarantine Phasis" (III: 1220) Amarantos is the mountain in Colchis where the river Phasis flows and where the Golden fleece is guarded by a dragon. Hecate is a chtonian spirit - a witch seen nowadays as at the origin of Halloween. She appears as the moon, as Diana (Artemis) and as the goddess of the underworld. The verse before that of Amarantos quoted above are "...calling on Hecate Brimo (the mighty one) to assist him (Jason) in the contest. And when he had called on her, he drew back: and she heard him, the dread godess, from the uttermost depths ... and round her horrible serpents twined themselves among the oak boughs; and there was a gleam of countless torches, and sharply howled around her the hounds of hell". A remarkable passage, one of two places in Argonautica that mentions Amarantos. The other (II:399) is "From the Amarantine mountains far away... eddying Phasis rolls his broad stream to the sea. Guide your ship to that river... where a dragon, a monster terrible to behold, ever glares around keeping watch over the fleece that is spread upon the top of an oak..." Christina knew what power she embodied! I have worked for fifteen years on Christina and finally have reached this esoteric interpretation of her Order and am pleased that it is so many layered. She was studying Greek with leading French and Dutch specialists in Stockholm before her abdication in 1654 so she probably easily knew what the Argonautica states... The Golden fleece was interpreted alchemically during the seventeenth century and I think Pernety lays it out. Does he or any other alchemist mention the Amarantine mountain and river? Or Hecate? I include a mention of the Amarantine river in a Christian context written some fifteen years after Christina's design. She (who was nicknamed Amaranta) may afterall have only wanted to allude to the notion of the ever green wreath, perhaps as a sign of her secret conversion to which the allusion in Peter fits. But she and Milton were more complex than that... John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667) II:78 But let us call to synod all the Blest, Through Heaven's wide bounds: from them I will not hide My judgements; how with mankind I proceed, As how with peccant Angels late they saw, And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed. He ended, and the Son gave signal high To the bright minister that watched; he blew His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps When God descended, and perhaps once more To sound at general doom. The angelic blast Filled all the regions: from their blisful bowers Of Amarantine Shade, fountain or spring, SIC By the waters of life, where'er they sat In fellowships of joy, the sons of light Hasted, resorting to the summons high; And took their seats; till from his throne supreme The Almighty thus pronounced his sovran will. O Sons, like one of us Man is become To know both good and evil, since his taste Of that defended fruit; but let him boast His knowledge of good lost, and evil got; Happier, had it sufficed him to have known Good by itself, and evil not at all. Subject: ACADEMY : Tetrahedron From: Peter Kelly Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 Tatiana, You might be interested in Durer's painting (one of the places you can see it is at www.princeton.edu/~his291/Durer_Melancolia.html). Particularly the stone/crystal at the bottom of the ladder. It seems to be at least 8 sided. John Read talks about this in one of his books, I think it was "Prelude to chemistry" This picture melancolia seems to be related to Saturn, so maybe there is a connection between the metals/minerals under this planets influence and this particular stone. See also "Eighteenth century chemistry as it relates to alchemy 1771" by Encyclopedia Brittania (available at Kessinger publishing) On page 10 speaking of the salt alum, which is a vitriolic acid combined to the point of saturation with a particular absorbent earth "... the figure of its crystals is that of an octahedron or solid of eight sides. These octahedra are triangular pyramids ...." Peter Kelly Subject: ACADEMY : Tartar From: Mike Dickman Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 Pernety's 'Dictionnaire Mytho-Hermétique' (Paris 1758) gives: '"TARTAR (Sc. Herm.) - Basil Valentine and certain other Philosophers have said that tartar dissolves metals; which has given rise in several Chymists to the idea that it should be regarded as the materia whereof the philosophers make their magistry. Philalethes, however, says that the term tartar should be explained in the same vein as the crow's head; and those who are least versed in this science, know these expressions (sic.) signify the Philosophic materia at the stage of blackness. Whit tartar or the salt of tartar of the Wise, is their magistry come to the colour white. TARTAR OF MARBLE - This is those stones which form in the human body. They are thus named because of the terrestrial and tartaric material whereof they are composed." m Subject: ACADEMY : 'The Day C' in the Fama From: Mike Dickman Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2001 The Golden Dawn ritual of the Restoration and Reconsecration of the Vault takes place on Corpus Christi. Their authentic if somewhat tenuous link with original Rosicrucianism has been fairly carefully argued by Rafal Prinke in an article in the Hermetic Journal. m Subject: ACADEMY : Alchemy Museums/Exhibitions Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 From: Michal Pober Dear Friends, Rather late in the day in terms of our progress here in Kutna Hora to make a Museum of Alchemy, I'm wondering what else is out there in the way of permanent exhibitions or museums devoted to alchemy. I'm aware of the Fugger Laboratory in Austria but would appreciate any comments from anyone who has seen it. Here in the Czech Republic there is a small rather sterile exhibition in the Mihulka Tower at Prague Castle which [imo] has completely managed to dissipate its genus loci as an actual location of alchemical activity in Rudolf II's time; then there is the excellent small laboratory and exhibition in Budyne nad Ohri, curated in part by our friend Dr Antonin, which is associated with the most famous Czech alchemist Bavor Rodovsky. Additionally in Heidelberg there is a supposedly impressive pharmaceutical exhibition.. Can anyone add to this before we proclaim ourselves as instigating the first major Museum devoted to alchemy?? More news coming soon about our project.. Its still cooking! Best Regards, Michal Pober Subject: ACADEMY : Tetrahedron Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 From: Barbara Berrie An important alchemical material, phosphorus, exists as a tetrahedron. In the aqueous and vapor phase some forms of phophorus exist as a symmetrical tetrahedron (P4). Elemental arsenic probably is also tetrahedral; a general chemistry text might help. BHB