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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 DictionaryPygmeæ

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English Edition · Branch 646 of 740

Pygmeæ

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A Chymical Dictionary

p. 646

Pygmeæ

Spirits celestial influences and signs · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A name used for artificial people and, sometimes, underground spirits.

In the book. Sylphes and Vmbragines are referred to pygmies.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 38; facsimile PDF page 366.

Historical Definition

Pygmeæ are called artificial people, and sometimes subterranean spirits.

Meaning

The definition records two ranges, with sometimes qualifying the second. Artificial people and subterranean spirits should therefore both remain accessible without being forced into a single description.

Use in the Book

Sylphes and Vmbragines are referred to pygmies. Those short cross-references can lead to this fuller entry, which gives the range missing from an isolated English equivalent. Homunculus, elsewhere in the dictionary, also concerns artificial humanity and receives its own qualifications.

Places to Read

Sylphes. A spirit name locally equated with pygmies.

Vmbragines. Another name referred to pygmies.

Homunculus. An artificial human being, with an additional image sense.

In This Edition

The wording is presented as historical classification. The article does not claim that artificial people were actually produced, nor does it assume one modern folklore scheme governs every named spirit.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 38; facsimile PDF page 366 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Pygmeæ; 1650 facsimile PDF p. 366; compare Sylphes, Vmbragines, Homunculus

See also. Sylphes; Vmbragines; Homunculus

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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.