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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 252 of 504

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

German & Latin

1723 pp 192–194

(e) Im Grunde der Retorte liegt ein dreyfaches Corpus, (f) als erstlich der fixere Marcasit, welcher der metallischen Natur am nächsten ist, und aus welchem immediate das Metall wird; (g) zweytens das Granum metalli, welches aus dem Marcasit worden; (h) drittens die steinigte Mutter, in welcher das Metall gewachsen und figirt ist worden, als in dem grossen philosophischen Geschirr oder Glaß: Denn solche Mutter durchs grosse Schmeltz-Feuer zu Glaß oder Schlacken wird. (i) So steckt auch noch in diesem letzten Theil ein fixes Saltz, welches mit Wasser ausgelauget wird und kan für das Mineral-Alcali bestehen, welches durchs Feuer aus dem übergegangenen Spir. Vitriolino concentrirt oder figirt worden, wiewohl wenig, jedoch nachdem das vorgenommene Subject viel oder wenig feucht gewesen. Nun so Rec. diesen letzten Theil aus dem Grunde der Retorte heraus, lauge zuvor das Saltz mit Wasser davon und trockene das Pulver, solch Pulver schmeltze mit starckem Feuer, so wird sich ein Regulus setzen, und die Schlacken werden oben seyn. Den Regulum nun siede mit Bley an und verblase ihn, wie man insgemein die Metallen finirt, so wirst du das Granum metalli finden, der Regulus aber, wiewohl er das Fluß-Feuer mehr, als seine vorhergegangene Partes bestehet, so muß er doch durch endliche Gewalt des Feuers wegfliegen. Solcher Regulus ist der fixere Marcasit und mercurialische alcalisirte Theil oder figirte und alcalisirte Acidum Vitriolinum, und dieser ist prima immediata Materia metalli, aus dem immediate per longam Fixionem die Metalla werden.

1723 pp 192–194

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

1723 pp 192–194

(e) At the bottom of the retort lies a threefold body: (f) first, the more fixed marcasite, nearest to metallic nature, from which metal immediately arises; (g) second, the grain of metal that has come from the marcasite; (h) third, the stony matrix in which the metal grew and became fixed, as in the great philosophical vessel or glass. The great smelting fire turns that matrix into glass or slag. (i) This last part also contains a fixed salt that can be leached with water and serve as the mineral alkali, concentrated or fixed by fire from the vitriolic spirit that passed over. It is small in quantity, though according to whether the subject contained much or little moisture. Take this last part from the retort’s bottom, first leach out its salt with water, and dry the powder. Melt the powder with a strong fire: a regulus will settle, with slag above. Boil the regulus with lead and blow it off as metals are ordinarily refined; you will find the grain of metal. Although the regulus withstands the melting fire better than its preceding parts, the fire’s ultimate force must nevertheless drive it away. This regulus is the more fixed marcasite and the mercurial, alkalized portion, or fixed and alkalized vitriolic acid. It is the first immediate matter of metal, from which metals arise immediately through long fixation.

1723 pp 192–194

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.