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

Swipe or use the arrow keys.

German & Latin Page · Branch 269 of 504

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

German & Latin

1723 pp 209–210

Als im Schmeltzen hat das Metall verlohren den Marcasit, den Arsenic, den Schwefel, den Vitriol oder den Sp. Vitrioli. Will ich nun das Metall zum Marcasit machen, so muß ich ihm sein eigen Marcasit aus seinem Berge geben, oder einen gleichen; und gleichwie der Marcasit das Metall im Gewicht und Quantität überwogen, also muß ich ihm hier auch mehr Marcasit zusetzen, und also ist es in allen zu mercken. Derowegen Rec. das Metall, setze ihm einen Regulum marcasiticum oder Marcasit zu, und schmeltze es zusammen. Wenn solche conjungirt, so gieb denn ihm Arsenicum, hernach den Schwefel, und so die conjungirt, so gieb ihm den Spiritum oder Ol. Vitrioli vel Aluminis, nachdem das Metall weiß oder roth ist, der Sp. Vitrioli vel Aluminis bringet es denn mit seiner excedirenden Quantität wieder dahin, was es im Anfang gewesen, nemlich ein Vitriol, und so es so weit gebracht ist, so kan solcher Vitriol gantz und gar zu einem lautern Dampff oder corrosivischen Wasser, wie es im Anfange gewesen, gemacht werden: So ist das Letzte zum Ersten und das Unterste zum Obersten worden. Inferius factum est superius. Also gehet es auch für sich. Denn aus dem Acido Vitriolino kan er Vitriol, aus diesem einen Arsenic, aus solchem ein Marcasit, aus diesem Metall, aus dem Metall Glaß machen. Kurtz: Du must das Metall mit seinem Schwefel, Arsenico & Marcasit versetzen, denn gieb ihm seine steinigte Mutter in excedirender Quantität oder Gleiche, und schmeltze es zusammen, so wird ein Glaß daraus.

1723 pp 209–210

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

1723 pp 209–210

In smelting, metal has lost marcasite, arsenic, sulphur, vitriol, or spirit of vitriol. To make it marcasite, give it its own marcasite from its mountain or a like one. As marcasite outweighed the metal in weight and quantity, add more marcasite here too; observe the same in all cases. Take the metal, add a marcasitic regulus or marcasite, and melt them together. Once united, give it arsenic, then sulphur; once these unite, give it spirit or oil of vitriol or alum, according as the metal is white or red. By its excess quantity, spirit of vitriol or alum returns it to what it was at first: vitriol. Once brought that far, the vitriol can be made entirely into a pure vapour or corrosive water, as at the beginning. The last has become the first and the lowest the highest: “The lower has become the upper.” The process also goes forward. From vitriolic acid one can make vitriol; from that, arsenic; from arsenic, marcasite; from marcasite, metal; and from metal, glass. Briefly, mix the metal with its sulphur, arsenic, and marcasite, then give it its stony matrix in an exceeding or equal quantity and melt them together: glass results.

1723 pp 209–210

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.