DiotimosReading Desk

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

Explore the Lexicon
The Golden Chain of HomerII.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

English Page · Branch 340 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 268–270

Denn in dem thierischen Reiche hat ihm die Natur die Excrementa gegeben, als da ist der Urin, der Koth principaliter, denn der Schweiß und Rotz, den Magen- und Lungen-Speichel, die Thränen der Augen, das Ohren-Schmaltz, den Samen. Im vegetabilischen Reiche hat er die selbst austrieffende Gummata und Liquores, die Blumen und die Samen, die Blätter und Stengel, und ist nicht vonnöthen, des Thieres gantzen Cörper, und des Krauts Wurtzel aus der Erde zu graben, denn die oben gemeldeten die Kräffte in sich begreiffen, welche die Wurtzel hat. Also hat die Natur denen Menschen die Metallen zu allerhand andern Gebrauch destiniret, daß es nicht vonnöthen ist, solche zu verstören und denen armen Leuten eine Theurung in die Waaren zu bringen. Denn an statt des Goldes haben die Laboranten die güldischen Marcasiten, die solarische Vitriol, denn die solarische Schwefel-Kiese, die Sulphura fixa & volatilia embryonata, als da sind Antimonium, Blut-Stein, Schmirgel, Magnet, welche alle participiren von der Hertz- und Muth-stärckenden solarischen Art. Also ist es mit allen rothen Astris Eisen, Kupffer, daß man an statt ihrer metallischen Cörper Generata und Dejecta nehme. Also ist es mit der Silber und allen weissen Astris auch: Denn gleichwie der Eisen das Sulphur embryonatum volatile Solis in sich hält, so hat der Wißmuth den Sulphur embryonatum Lunae volatile in sich; also der Galmey, die Tutia, die fixen lunarischen Vitriola.

1723 pp 268–270

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

1723 pp 268–270

In the animal kingdom nature has given chiefly urine and dung, then sweat and mucus, stomach and lung saliva, tears, earwax, and seed. In the vegetable kingdom there are spontaneously exuding gums and liquors, flowers and seeds, leaves and stalks. There is no need to take the animal’s whole body or dig the plant’s root from the earth, since the things mentioned contain the root’s powers. Likewise nature has destined metals for many other human uses, making it unnecessary to destroy them and raise the price of goods for poor people. Instead of gold, laboratory workers have gold-bearing marcasites, solar vitriols, solar sulphur-pyrites, and fixed and volatile embryonic sulphurs such as antimony, bloodstone, emery, and lodestone, all participating in the solar kind that strengthens heart and courage. So with the red stars iron and copper: take their products and discharges rather than their metallic bodies. So too with silver and all white stars. As iron holds the volatile embryonic sulphur of the sun, bismuth holds the volatile embryonic sulphur of the moon; likewise calamine, tutia, and fixed lunar vitriols.

1723 pp 268–270

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.