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Diotimos Library · Esotericism & Spirituality Collection · Bilingual Edition

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 HomerII.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

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German & Latin Page · Branch 315 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 247–248

Nun ist das Chaos geschieden und rectificiret und gantz per Putrefactionem, Separationem & Rectificationem seu Solutionem passiret. Jetzt muß es gehen zur Coagulation, Fixation und Regeneration in Quintam Essentiam, seu Magisterium & Arcanum. Hier möchte mich einer vielleicht fragen, was ich mit den Kohlen wolle anfangen, welche man insgemein calciniret, reverberiret oder zu Aschen brennet und Saltz auslauget, sonst die Kohle ja zu nichts nutze? Diesem respondire ich: Er gedulde sich so lange auf das Nachfolgende, allwo ich ihm sagen werde, warum ich bewogen worden solches zu thun. Coagulatio, Fixatio & Regeneratio in Quintam Essentiam & Magisterium, seu Arcanum. Nun hast du aus dem chaotischen Wasser per Separationem erstlich promiscue 4. Theile geschieden, und aus solchen 4. Theilen hast du 12. Theile per Rectificationem heraus gebracht, nemlich von jedem 3. Theile nach der Ordnung. Jetzt so nimm die Kohlen oder Terram subtilem, miscirs mit seiner Terra subtiliori in einem Kolben, thue hinzu seine Terram subtilissimam, so hast du die irdische Partes conjungirt, solches stelle ins B. M. per tres Gradus, allezeit einen Grad um den andern stärcker Feuer gegeben, ad tertium usque quartum Gradum, setze Helm und Vorlage an, damit wenn was aufsteiget, so gehet es in die Vorlage.

1723 pp 247–248

The Golden Chain of Homer: II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

1723 pp 247–248

Chaos is now separated and rectified and has passed completely through putrefaction, separation, and rectification or dissolution. It must now proceed to coagulation, fixation, and regeneration into quintessence, or magistery and arcanum. Someone may ask what I intend to do with charcoal, which is ordinarily calcined, reverberated, or burned to ashes and leached for salt, since otherwise charcoal is supposedly useless. I answer: let him be patient until what follows, where I shall explain why I was moved to do this. Coagulation, fixation, and regeneration into quintessence and magistery, or arcanum. By separation you first divided chaotic water indiscriminately into four parts; by rectification you obtained twelve from those four, three from each in order. Take the charcoal, or subtle earth, mix it with its subtler earth in a flask, and add its subtlest earth. You have conjoined the earthly parts. Set this in the water bath through three degrees, increasing the fire degree by degree up to the third or fourth. Fit the head and receiver, so that anything rising passes into the receiver.

1723 pp 247–248

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.