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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 Homer4 How Nature Destroys, Corrupts, and Alters Minerals

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Facing Pages · Branch 306 of 504

4 How Nature Destroys, Corrupts, and Alters Minerals

German & Latin

1723 pp 240–241

Als gleichwie in den Beinen unterschiedlich Marck ist, an dem Ende der Knochen oder osse spongioso, solches aber ist auf dem Weg zu eben der perfection des besten Marcks zu werden: denn solches spongiosum bedecket eine dura cartilago, solche duram cartilaginem bedecket das Knie-Euterlein, in welchem das Glied-Wasser ausgekochet wird, welches Glied-Wasser respective eine prima materia derer cartilaginum und des Marcks ist. Nun so intendiret der Medicus nicht das Glied-Wasser, oder das Knie-Euterlein, oder die duram cartilaginem, oder os spongiosum & ejus medullam zu curiren, sondern das beste Marck, denn er weiß, so ihm seine beste Medicin bis aufs beste Marck hinein dringet, daß es die schwächere Theile, so viel es ihrer Natur vonnöthen, auch heilet; aber er verkehrets doch nicht in ein Marck, die böse Neben-Qualität ändert es in eine gute. Also ists mit denen Metallen oder mineren: Die Medicin oder Tinctur intendiret nicht den Schwefel, Arsenic oder Marcasit zu curiren, sondern das Metall, und so es auf einen Schwefel, Arsenic oder Marcasit geworffen wird, so machet es solche nicht zu lauter Gold und Silber, aber doch reiner ☉ischer oder ☉ischer Natur, wie das Mutter-Marck von seinem defect oder morbo in ein bessers und gesundere Natur, welches durch die digestion und maturation endlich ins beste Marck mutiret wird, also kan hernach ein solch ☉isch gemachter [Schwefel], [Arsenic] und Marcasit durch digestion und maturation auch zu ☉ und ☽ gemacht werden, aber nicht wie das Metall in Guß und Fluß zu puren Gold und Silber. Wir wollen von der corruption oder putrefaction zur separation, conjunction und regeneration des universal-chaotischen Wassers in primis, und nachgehends aller Dingen universaliter & generaliter descendiren.

1723 pp 240–241

The Golden Chain of Homer: 4 How Nature Destroys, Corrupts, and Alters Minerals

1723 pp 240–241

There are different kinds of marrow in bones, as at the ends of bones, or in spongy bone; yet this is on the way toward the perfection of the finest marrow. Hard cartilage covers this spongy substance, and the little pouch of the knee covers that hard cartilage. In this pouch the joint-fluid is elaborated by cooking; relative to the cartilage and marrow, this joint-fluid is a first matter. The physician does not aim to cure the joint-fluid, the little knee-pouch, the hard cartilage, or the spongy bone and its marrow, but the finest marrow. He knows that if his best medicine penetrates to the finest marrow, it also heals the weaker parts to the extent their nature requires. It does not, however, change them into marrow; it changes an evil accompanying quality into a good one. So it is with metals or ores. The medicine or tincture does not aim to cure sulphur, arsenic, or marcasite, but the metal. If cast upon sulphur, arsenic, or marcasite, it does not make them wholly gold and silver, but gives them a purer solar nature. It is like the mother-marrow, changed from its defect or disease to a better and healthier nature and finally, through digestion and maturation, into the finest marrow. In the same way sulphur, arsenic, and marcasite made solar can afterward be made into gold and silver through digestion and maturation, though not, as with metal, into pure gold and silver in the molten state. Let us now descend from corruption or putrefaction to separation, conjunction, and regeneration: first of universal chaotic water, and afterward of all things universally and generally.

1723 pp 240–241

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.