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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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English Page · Branch 327 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 257–258

Daß nun ich secundum Philosophen das Humidum und Siccum nicht einschliesse in eine Phiole und so continua Digestione & Circulatione solches coagulire und figire, bis es austrockne und endlich zur Erden werde in einem steten Feuer etc. solches hat mich die Natur gelehret, welches kein Philosophus nicht verachtet, auch nicht achtet, sondern wer den rechten natürlichen Zweck erhält, der hat gewonnen und sein Werck gekürtzet. Denn die Natur, damit die Elementa Wasser und Erde ihre Frucht bringen, so giebt sie den Samen in Wassers-Gestalt von oben herab, von welchem die Erde so viel nimmt und behält, als ihr zum Wachsthum vonnöthen ist, das übrige überflüßige Wasser treibet sie durch untere und obere Hitze, das ist, unterirdische Central- und oberirdische Hitze der Sonnen wieder zu Dampff und Rauch in die Lufft auf, allda es wieder zu Wasser wird und fällt und distilliret wieder auf die Erden, davon die Erde abermals an sich nimmt, was sie zum Wachsthum vonnöthen, das übrige wird wieder davon distilliret in Gestalt des Dampffs, Rauchs, Nebel etc. in die Lufft auf, und diese Circulation treibet sie, bis des Schöpffers Wille alles zusammen coaguliret und figiret in einen fixen Stein. Unter solcher Imbibition oder Distillation Macrocosmi wachsen nun alle Früchte der Erden, jedes nach seiner Qualität.

1723 pp 257–258

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

1723 pp 257–258

Nature taught me not to enclose moist and dry in one phial, according to the philosophers, and by continuous digestion and circulation coagulate and fix it until it dries and finally becomes earth in a constant fire. This deserves neither contempt nor mere esteem from a philosopher: whoever attains the true natural end has gained and shortened the work. To make water and earth bear fruit, nature sends seed down from above in water’s form. Earth takes and retains as much as it needs for growth. By heat below and above—subterranean central heat and the sun’s heat above ground—nature drives superfluous water up again into the air as vapour and smoke. There it becomes water again, falls and distils upon earth, which again takes what growth requires. The remainder is distilled back into the air as vapour, smoke, mist, and so forth. Nature continues this circulation until the Creator’s will coagulates and fixes everything together into one fixed stone. During this imbibition or distillation of the macrocosm, all earth’s fruits grow, each according to its quality.

1723 pp 257–258

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.