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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 Homer9 Earth and Its Outflow

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English Page · Branch 86 of 504

9 Earth and Its Outflow

German & Latin

1723 pp 43–44

Solches siehet man an den lebloß-scheinenden Creaturen der Steine und Ertze. Denn so man noch so viel Steine aus der Erden gräbt, und so viel 1000. Jahr zu unterschiedlich grossen Stein-Gebäuden adplicirte, würde man doch kein Ende nicht finden, indem bis dato nicht der geringste Abgang und Abnehmung derselben ist verspüret worden, daß nicht die Menschen überflüssige Berg und Steine, auch Ertz hätten finden sollen. Aus diesem aber soll der Leser abnehmen, daß ob wohl eine jede Sphær unsern Augen nach ihre individua gebieret und solche von einander und an einander unterschieden zu seyn scheinen, so ist hier eben wie oben zu argumentiren, daß die obere Himmels-Arten so wohl als der Lufft, des Wassers und der Erde nur ratione der Volatilität und Fixität unterschieden sind, als auch jedes individuum unterscheidet sich in jedweder besonderer Sphæra von denen andern auf obige Weise. Denn daß der Himmel durchleuchtete Creaturen hervor bringet, macht seine Reinigkeit, Purität und Klarheit. Also machen die untern Elemente nach dem Grad ihrer Subtil- u. Grobheit subtile und grobe Geschöpffe, und diese sind alle unter einander unterschieden, und dieser Unterscheid ist wieder ratione majoris & minoris volatilitatis & fixitatis.

1723 pp 43–44

The Golden Chain of Homer: 9 Earth and Its Outflow

1723 pp 43–44

We see this in the apparently lifeless creatures, stones and ores. However many stones people dig from earth and use for great stone buildings over thousands of years, they would never reach an end. To this day not the slightest loss or diminution has been perceived that would prevent people from finding abundant mountains, stones and ores. From this, however, the reader should understand that although each sphere visibly gives birth to its individual things, and these appear distinct from one another, we must reason here as above: the kinds of upper heaven, air, water and earth differ only with respect to volatility and fixation. Each individual within its particular sphere differs from the others in the same way. Heaven produces luminous creatures because of its cleanness, purity and clarity. Likewise, the lower elements produce subtle and coarse creatures according to their degrees of subtlety and coarseness. All differ from one another, and that difference is again a matter of greater or lesser volatility and fixation.

1723 pp 43–44

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.