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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 HomerII.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

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Facing Pages · Branch 313 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 245–246

Jetzt nimm die gröbere Lufft, so von dem Himmel zurück geblieben in Rectificatione und thue es zu dem distillirten Element des Wassers, so in prima Separatione Chaos No. 2. überdistilliret ist, diese beyde thue in einen Kolben, setze in B. M. und distillire per quartum Gradum, so steigt die Lufft herüber, das grobe Wasser aber steigt per B. M. nicht leicht auf, zuförderst in einem solchen hohen Kolben, sondern in Aschen und niedrigen Kolben. Nun hast du die Lufft aus dem Wasser distilliret, solche solst du auch in 3. Theile rectificiren, wie den Himmel, das ist, auf dreymal allezeit in B. M. auf die Helffte abgezogen, so signire sie auch mit Zetteln, wie den Himmel. Die höchst-rectificirte Lufft nenne Aerem seu Volatile subtilissimum, den nächsten dran Aerem subtiliorem, den dritten nach dem ersten Aerem subtilem, und stelle sie an gehörigen Ort fein nach der Ordnung. Nun nimm das Wasser, so von der Lufft zurück geblieben, thue es in einen niedrigen, doch nicht zu niedrigen Kolben, mit Helm und Vorlage, setze in Aschen, distillire per primum usque ad secundum Gradum, so steigt das Subtileste, das fange als den ersten Theil besonders, denn a secundo Gradu ad tertium distillire wiederum den andern Theil Wasser und thue es auch besonders, a tertio ad quartum Gradum distillire den dritten Theil des gröbsten Wassers, so hast du das Wasser auch rectificirt und heisse das Subtileste Aquam subtilissimam, das andere subtiliorem, das dritte Aquam subtilem, und stelle es nach der Ordnung nächst der geschiedenen und rectificirten Lufft.

1723 pp 245–246

The Golden Chain of Homer: II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

1723 pp 245–246

Take the coarser air left from heaven during rectification and add it to the distilled water-element that passed over as number two in the first separation of Chaos. Put both in a flask in the water bath and distil at the fourth degree. Air rises over, whereas coarse water does not readily rise in a water bath, especially in so tall a flask, but requires ashes and a lower flask. You have distilled air from water. Rectify it too into three parts like heaven, drawing off half each time in the water bath on three occasions, and label it similarly. Call the most highly rectified portion “Air, or the subtlest volatile,” the next “Subtler air,” and the third after the first “Subtle air.” Place them properly in order. Take the water left from the air and put it in a low, but not too low, flask with head and receiver, set in ashes. Distil from the first to the second degree, collecting the subtlest portion separately as the first part. From the second to the third degree distil the second portion of water and keep it separately; from the third to the fourth distil the third, coarsest portion. Water too is now rectified. Call the subtlest “Subtlest water,” the other “Subtler water,” the third “Subtle water,” and set them in order next to the separated and rectified air.

1723 pp 245–246

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.