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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 Homer23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them

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23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them

German & Latin

1723 pp 176–177

Das fixere Theil aber gehet zum Theil in Schlacken, in welchen die Stein-Mutter vermischt ist, welche verursacht, daß ein guter Theil vom Regulo mit zu Schlacken und Glaß wird. Der Regulus aber, so sich unter die Schlacke setzet, ist zum Theil marcasitisch, zum Theil metallisch. Den Marcasit treibet man in der Feinmachung vom Metall hinweg, so bleibet das Metall liegen. Daß aber viel Autores das Antimonium haben Radicem oder Materiam primam metalli genannt, haben sie zum Theil nicht gar unrecht gemeynet, zuförderst, so sie unter dem Antimonio die Marcasiten oder marcasitische Art verstanden haben. Sonsten aber ist Antimonium ein Marcasit, welcher ex defectu majoris Maturationis ist stecken geblieben. Auf solche Manier kan ein Philosophus Chymicus eher zum Zweck kommen. Denn es gehet immer das Flüchtige im Feuer voran, und das fixere Theil folget immer nach. Oben haben wir nun gesagt, daß die Metalle aus Dampff, aus einem salinischen geistlichen Dampff oder spiritualischen Sal geboren werden, und haben addiret, daß solches ein Corrosiv sey. Nun will ich voran setzen, wie ich oben gethan, und den Leser noch ein wenig erinnern, daß alles und jedes aus Saltz geboren ist, und wird alles und jedes in ultima Resolutione wieder in Nitrum & Sal reduciret.

1723 pp 176–177

The Golden Chain of Homer: 23 What the Generation of Minerals Is and Which Principles Constitute Them

1723 pp 176–177

The more fixed portion passes partly into slag containing the stony matrix, which causes a substantial part of the regulus also to become slag and glass. The regulus settling beneath the slag is partly marcasitic and partly metallic. Refining drives the marcasite away from the metal, leaving the metal behind. The many authors who called antimony the root or first matter of metal were therefore partly not entirely wrong, especially if by antimony they understood marcasites or a marcasitic kind. Otherwise, antimony is a marcasite arrested through lack of greater maturation. In this way a chymical philosopher can reach his goal sooner: the volatile always goes first in the fire, and the more fixed part follows. We stated above that metals are born from vapour—from a saline, spiritual vapour, or spiritual salt—and added that this is a corrosive. I shall first repeat what I did above and remind the reader again that everything is born from salt, and in its final resolution everything is reduced again into nitre and salt.

1723 pp 176–177

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.