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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 320 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 251–252

Setze den Kolben in B. M. in primo Gradu ignis, laß Tag und Nacht darinnen digeriren, daß die Erde wohl durchweichet oder solviret werde, denn so distillire die Feuchte davon, und so per eos Gradus nichts mehr gehet, so setze in Aschen und mache es wie zuvor, daß die Erde per lentos Gradus wieder gantz dürre, trocken und durstig werde, ja daß sie vor Dürre möchte aufspringen oder sich spalten; jedoch treibe es anfänglich nicht zu starck, denn sie ist noch zu flüchtig. Wenn es nun wieder so trocken ist, so gieb ihm wie zuvor frisches Wasser, und machs in allen wie vor, mit Imbibiren, Digeriren, Abstrahiren, Sicciren und Reverberiren lentissime in Aschen, und diß Imbibiren und Coaguliren treibe so lange, bis die Terra vom Himmel, Lufft und Wasser wohl geschwängert ist, welches an diesem zu sehen: Nachdem du vermeynest, daß es viel vom Himmel, Lufft und Wasser an sich gezogen, so gieß eine Hand hoch des abgezogenen Wassers darauf, setze in B. M. Tag und Nacht, laß solviren und abstrahiren ad tertiam Partem, denn laß es erkalten, setze es in Keller, ut crystallisetur. Hat es nun viel Crystallen geschossen, so viel von dem Volatile, oder Himmel, Lufft und Wasser hats coaguliret, und auch die Terram gantz subtil gemacht. So es dieses Zeichen hat, wie es denn bald bekommt, so ists Zeit zu figiren.

1723 pp 251–252

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

1723 pp 251–252

Set the flask in the water bath at the first degree of fire and let it digest day and night until earth is thoroughly soaked or dissolved. Distil the moisture off; when nothing more passes at those degrees, set it in ashes and proceed as before, slowly making earth thoroughly parched, dry, and thirsty, even ready to crack or split from dryness. Do not drive it too strongly at first, for it is still too volatile. Once dry again, give it fresh water as before and repeat every step: imbibing, digesting, drawing off, drying, and reverberating very gently in ashes. Continue imbibition and coagulation until earth is well impregnated with heaven, air, and water. Recognize it thus. When you think it has attracted much heaven, air, and water, pour the drawn-off water upon it to a hand’s breadth above it, set it in the water bath day and night, let it dissolve, and draw off to one-third. Cool it and place it in a cellar to crystallize. The quantity of crystals formed indicates how much volatile matter—heaven, air, and water—it has coagulated, also making earth thoroughly subtle. Once it shows this sign, which it soon will, it is time to fix.

1723 pp 251–252

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.