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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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German & Latin Page · Branch 321 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 252

Auf dieses so nimm den Kolben, ziehe das Humidum in B. M. ab, und letztlich in Aschen, trockne die Erde wohl aus, und gieb ein klein wenig stärcker Feuer, so wird es sich auf dem Boden des Kolbens reverberiren, braun oder roth werden mit vermischten Farben, Exsicciren und Reverberiren in Aschen gehet in einem Tag aus. Bey der Nacht nimm den Kolben aus, stich die Materia mit einem Holtz heraus auf einen Reibe-Stein, reibe es wohl zusammen gantz subtil, und thue es wieder in Kolben, gieß sein abgezogenes Wasser, oder ein frisches so viel darauf, daß es nur wie ein dick Honig sey, setze es ins B. M. ziehe die Feuchte ab, denn in Asche coaguliret und exsicciret, gieb ein wenig stärcker Feuer, daß sie sich reverberire, und eine Farbe erlange, wie zuvor; denn so lasse es erkalten, nimm die Terram aus und reibs wieder durcheinander. Thue es abermal in Kolben, begieß mit seiner abgezogenen Feuchte, wie zuvor, zu einem dicken Honig, setze es ins B. M. denn in Asche, coagula, exsicca, reverbera etc. Diese Operation treibe so lange, bis die Erde durchaus in der gelinden Reverberation einerley Farbe sey, denn so leidet sie schon stärcker Feuer.

1723 pp 252

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

1723 pp 252

Take the flask and draw off the moisture in the water bath and finally in ashes. Dry earth thoroughly and apply a slightly stronger fire: it will reverberate at the flask’s bottom, becoming brown or red with mixed colours. Drying and reverberation in ashes take one day. At night take out the flask, remove the matter with a piece of wood onto a grinding stone, grind it thoroughly and finely together, and return it to the flask. Pour on its drawn-off water or enough fresh water to make it only as thick as honey. Set it in the water bath and draw off the moisture, then coagulate and dry it in ashes. Apply a little stronger fire so that it reverberates and acquires a colour as before. Cool it, remove earth, and grind it together again. Return it to the flask, add its drawn-off moisture as before to make thick honey, set it in the water bath and then ashes: coagulate, dry, reverberate, and so forth. Continue until gentle reverberation gives earth one colour throughout; then it can endure stronger fire.

1723 pp 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.