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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 366 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 291–292

Damit aber ein Artist verstehe, was die Kohlen seyn, und sich nicht verirre, so mercke er Folgendes, so wird er leicht zum Verstande und Distinction aller Dinge kommen. Nemlich die Kohle ist ein lauterer Sulphur oder coagulirtes Oleum, das Oleum hingegen ist eine resolvirte Kohle in Liquido, welches auch gleich zu einer Kohle zu machen, so man ihm per altam Cucurbitam sein Humidum ex Cinere benimmt lento Igne, so bleibet in Fundo per Gradus eine kohlschwartze Materie, welche zuvor ein Oehl gewesen, das Humidum aber, so ihm benommen worden, ist ein saurer Eßig. Also siehet der Liebhaber, daß das Acidum eben auch ist ein resolvirtes, subtilisirtes oder dünne gemachtes Oehl. Und was ist denn der Spiritus volatilis anders als ein subtilisirtes Acidum? Also siehet ein Artist, daß die Principia nur differiren ratione Solutionis & Coagulationis, ratione Volatilitatis & Fixitatis, ratione Subtilitatis & Crassitudinis. Also ist die Kohle ein coagulirtes Oleum, das Oleum ein coagulirtes Acidum, das Acidum ein coagulirter oder concentrirter Spiritus volatilis: Hingegen so ist der Spiritus volatilis ein rarificirter und subtil gemachter Eßig, der Eßig ein rarificirtes Oleum, dieses eine solvirte Kohle. So aber die Kohle zum Saltz und Asche gebracht wird, so erlanget es Gradum summum Fixitatis, aber von der Kohle unterschieden; so nun die Asche und Saltz zu einem Glaß geschmoltzen worden, so ist das Subject in summo Gradu Fixitatis perennis, incorruptibilis.

1723 pp 291–292

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

1723 pp 291–292

To understand charcoal without going astray, observe the following; it readily leads to understanding and distinguishing all things. Charcoal is pure sulphur or coagulated oil; conversely oil is charcoal dissolved into liquid. It can immediately be made charcoal by gently removing its moisture through a tall cucurbit in ashes: by degrees a coal-black matter remains at the bottom, formerly oil, while the moisture removed is sour vinegar. Acid too is therefore a resolved, subtilized, or thinned oil. What is volatile spirit but subtilized acid? The principles differ only in solution and coagulation, volatility and fixity, subtlety and thickness. Charcoal is coagulated oil; oil, coagulated acid; acid, coagulated or concentrated volatile spirit. Conversely, volatile spirit is rarefied and subtilized vinegar; vinegar, rarefied oil; oil, dissolved charcoal. Bringing charcoal into salt and ash gives the highest degree of fixity, yet distinct from charcoal. When ash and salt are melted into glass, the subject has the highest degree of enduring, incorruptible fixity.

1723 pp 291–292

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.