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Anonymous (traditionally attributed to Anton Joseph Kirchweger)

The Golden Chain of Homer

A New Translation from the German Edition of 1723

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The Golden Chain of Homer23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them

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German & Latin Page · Branch 249 of 504

23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them

German & Latin

1723 pp 190–191

Denn so sich das Acidum in die Gur und die Gur in das Acidum verhauffet und je mehr es Acidum bekommt, je schweffelhafftiger und flüßiger es wird. Dieser Sulphur wird immer mehr und mehr digerirt und figirt a Gradu ad Gradum und wird zum Arsenic, dieser zum Marcasit, der da ist proxima Materia Metalli, gleichwie der Sulphur und flüchtige Arsenic proximae Materiae ad Marcasitam, die Gur aber oder Esse Vitriolinum proxima Materia ad Sulphur & Arsenicum seynd. Denn so der Vitriol oder Gur mit dem Acido überhäuffet wird und exsicciret, so wird ein Sulphur draus, wie zu sehen, wenn man über dem gemeinen Vitriol per Alembicum öffters ein Aquafort oder Aqua Regis abdistilliret per tertium Gradum im Sande, also daß er jederzeit immer trockener werde, solchen dann auf eine Glut geworffen, wird man den Sulphur in continenti schmecken. Wenn nun der Sulphur und Arsenic entweder zugleich oder allein, der Sulphur wird doch eher geboren per Coacervationem Acidi Vitriolini oder aber per Coacervationem Acidi salini Salis, in Marcasit gebracht ist, so wird der Marcasit durch Länge der Digestion und Maturation oder Evaporation, Coagulation und Fixation in Metall, nach Stärcke der Digestion und zufallenden Eigenschafften. Dieses ist nun der Anfang und das Ende der mineralischen metallischen Geburt in Theoria gegeben.

1723 pp 190–191

The Golden Chain of Homer: 23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them

1723 pp 190–191

As acid accumulates in Gur and Gur in acid, the more acid it receives, the more sulphurous and fusible it becomes. This sulphur is increasingly digested and fixed, degree by degree, becoming arsenic; arsenic becomes marcasite, the proximate matter of metal, just as sulphur and volatile arsenic are the proximate matters of marcasite, and Gur or the vitriolic being is the proximate matter of sulphur and arsenic. When vitriol or Gur is overwhelmed with acid and dried, sulphur arises. This may be seen by repeatedly distilling aqua fortis or aqua regia from common vitriol through an alembic at the third degree in sand, so that the vitriol continually becomes drier. Throw it upon a glowing coal and sulphur will immediately be perceived. When sulphur and arsenic, together or separately—though sulphur is born first through the accumulation of vitriolic acid or the saline acid of salt—have been brought into marcasite, long digestion and maturation, or evaporation, coagulation, and fixation, make the marcasite into metal according to the strength of digestion and incidental properties. This gives in theory the beginning and end of mineral, metallic generation.

1723 pp 190–191

About This Reading Edition

The two-book alchemical work of 1723 in German with a new English translation, 399 notes, eight historical diagrams, chapter outlines, keyword essays, a glossary, bibliography, subject index, and 400 discussion questions.

Discussion Questions

Historical Text and Translation

Anonymous, Aurea Catena Homeri. Frankfurt and Leipzig: Johann Georg Böhme, 1723. Traditionally attributed to Anton Joseph Kirchweger; the attribution remains uncertain. Historical diagrams from the Stiftung der Werke von C. G. Jung copy digitized by e-rara.

About Diotimos Editions

This historical edition credits Diotimos Editions as its English translator.

Rights

The supplied edition identifies the 1723 German source and historical diagrams as public-domain material. Its new English translation and editorial apparatus are published with the site owner’s authorization. The complete original files are retained unchanged.