DiotimosReading Desk

Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · English Edition

Gerhard Dorn and John French

A Chymical Dictionary

An Expanded Diotimos Lexicon of Paracelsian and Alchemical Language

Explore the Lexicon
A Chymical DictionaryCaput corvi

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

English Edition · Branch 93 of 740

Caput corvi

Book Mode

A Chymical Dictionary

p. 93

Caput corvi

Metals minerals and metallic preparations · A Chymical Dictionary

At a Glance

The word. A raven-head expression identified with antimony.

A place to read. The historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 14; facsimile PDF page 342.

Historical Definition

Caput corvi is antimony.

Meaning

The dictionary itself decodes this figurative name. Its immediate value is recognition: a passage may use the image where another uses Stibium or antimony. The entry does not explain the image’s origin or supply a preparation, so a more elaborate colour or stage interpretation would require the actual passage.

Caput mortuum is a different head-expression with a different definition, concerning residue after distillation or sublimation. The shared first word is not sufficient reason to identify the two materials.

Places to Read

Stibium. A historical name equated with antimony.

Alcofol. A variant-name entry identifying stibium or antimony.

Caput mortuum. The material left behind by distillation or sublimation.

Historical source: 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 14; facsimile PDF page 342 — Facsimile

Sources. A Chymicall Dictionary (1650), s.v. Caput corvi ; compare Stibium, Alcofol, Caput mortuum

See also. Stibium; Alcofol; Caput mortuum

93

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.