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

German & Latin

1723 pp 196–197

Doch will ich ihme eine Lehre hieher setzen, damit er jedes Metall und Mineral gleich kan erkennen, welches ein Superfluum humidum hat oder nicht, d. i. welches höchst fix oder nicht, in mittler Natur oder noch acidischer Natur ist, oder welches Metall acidisch, welches alcalisch, und welches beyderseits Natur ist. Also man nehme eine Mineram, oder Universal- oder Metall-Stern, was er will, und nehme dazu ein Acidum corrosivum und ein Corrosivum alcalinum, welche wir am meisten und zwar universaliter recommendiren, den Spir. Nitri, oder das Aquafort und den Sp. Salis, was nun der Sp. Nitri und Aquafort solviret, da judicire hieraus, daß sein Acidum noch offen und nicht figirt ist und alcalisirt, als zu sehen an dem Silber und Bley. Denn gleich solviret seines gleichen. Welches Metall aber und Mineral sich nicht mit solchem Acido solviren läßt, sondern mit dem Alcalino mit dem Acido vermischt, das halte für alcalisch fix. Hieraus judicire, daß das Acidum in solchem Metall und Mineral völlig alcalisirt und figirt ist, also daß es mit seines gleichen geistlichem Alcali muß erwecket werden, und zu der acidischen Natur adoptiret, damit das Acidum hernach solches Geöffnete in seine Natur auch übersetzt & tanquam ad primam Vitrioli Naturam & Materiam zurück bringen könne, als da ist der Gold und Zinn.

1723 pp 196–197

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

1723 pp 196–197

Yet I shall give him a rule by which he can immediately recognize whether any metal or mineral has superfluous moisture: whether it is highly fixed or not, of an intermediate or still acidic nature; which metal is acidic, which alkaline, and which partakes of both. Take any ore, universal subject, or metallic star, and with it a corrosive acid and an alkaline corrosive. We recommend these above all, and universally: spirit of nitre or aqua fortis, and spirit of salt. Whatever spirit of nitre and aqua fortis dissolve, judge its acid to be still open, not fixed and alkalized, as is seen with silver and lead. For like dissolves its like. Whatever metal or mineral cannot be dissolved by that acid but can by the alkaline mixed with acid, regard it as alkaline-fixed. Judge that its acid is fully alkalized and fixed, so that it must be awakened by its like, a spiritual alkali, and adapted to the acidic nature. The acid can then transfer that opened material into its own nature and bring it back, as it were, to the first nature and matter of vitriol. Gold and tin are examples.

1723 pp 196–197

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.