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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition

Gerhard Dorn and John French

A Chymical Dictionary

An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language

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A Chymical DictionaryCalx Martis

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English Edition · Branch 88 of 740

Calx Martis

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 88

Calx Martis

Metals minerals and metallic preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. An iron or steel preparation named through crocus vocabulary.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341.

Historical Definition

Calx Martis is crocus of steel or iron.

Meaning

The historical definition offers steel and iron as the material family and crocus as the prepared identifying term. It does not state a single procedure or modern composition. Preserve both material alternatives, rather than choosing one merely because a later recipe is more familiar.

The neighbouring Calx compounds show why the complete name matters. Each has its own gloss, and their products should not be collapsed into one generic ash. A passage describing the preparation, colour or treatment of iron can clarify the particular crocus intended.

Places to Read

Hadid. A dictionary name for iron.

Calx Iovis. A tin-related calx name glossed as a spirit.

Calx Solis. Gold distinguished by calcination.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 13; facsimile PDF page 341 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Calx Martis ; compare Hadid, Calx Iovis, Calx Solis

See also. Hadid; Calx Iovis; Calx Solis

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About This Reading Edition

The complete 706 historical definitions of the 1650 English dictionary, modernised and accompanied by expanded Diotimos commentary, reading routes, 15 textual notes and complete linked indexes.

Historical Text

A Chymicall Dictionary, London 1650, English version associated with John French, based on Gerhard Dorn’s Dictionarium Theophrasti Paracelsi. The containing volume also prints Sendivogius and Paracelsus; neither neighboring work changes this dictionary’s attribution.

About This Edition

Complete 706 definition paragraphs with new introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes; Diotimos Editions, 2026.

Rights

The historical 1650 English text is in the public domain. New introduction, commentary, reading guides and indexes are © 2026 Diotimos Editions and published with the site owner’s authorization.