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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

The Golden Chain of HomerII.1 · The Return of Nitre and Salt to Vapour

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English Page · Branch 279 of 504

II.1 · The Return of Nitre and Salt to Vapour

German & Latin

1723 pp 216

Gleichwie oben probiret, wie daß die Natur alles und jedes aus dem uralten primordial- und von dem regenerirten Chaos, Regen und Thau, Schnee-Wasser alles gebäret, und alles aus diesen wird, es sey nun flüchtig, wie es aus der Lufft zu uns auf Erden kommt, ob schon etwas fix und corporalisch in Gestalt des Salpeters und Saltzes zu sehen: Also e contra so wird auch durch ebensolches Chaotische Wasser in volatili & fixo alles und jedes dadurch wieder zerstöret, zerlöset, solviret und corrumpiret und wieder in ihr erstes Wesen gebracht, daraus sie anfänglich auch entsprungen, nemlich in Salpeter und Saltz, diese in ▽ und das ▽ zu Dämpffen. Ihre Geburten macht die Natur ascendendo aus gesagten principiis, bis zu ihrer definirten perfection, denn so kehret sie um und corrumpiret alles wieder descendendo ad primum usque initium.

1723 pp 216

The Golden Chain of Homer: II.1 · The Return of Nitre and Salt to Vapour

1723 pp 216

As has been demonstrated above, nature brings forth each and every thing from the ancient primordial chaos and from regenerated chaos: rain, dew, and snow-water. Everything comes from these, whether in the volatile state in which it reaches us on earth from the air, or in the somewhat fixed, bodily form visible as saltpetre and salt. Conversely, through this same chaotic water, in its volatile and fixed states, each and every thing is again destroyed, resolved, dissolved, and corrupted, and brought back to its first condition, from which it originally arose: namely, into saltpetre and salt; these into water; and the water into vapours. Nature produces her offspring by ascending from the stated principles to their appointed perfection. Then she turns about and corrupts everything again by descending all the way to its first beginning.

1723 pp 216

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.