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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 324 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 254–256

Dieser aber befiehlet die Partes zu conjungiren und immer abzudistilliren, wieder zu imbibiren, sicciren, coaguliren, reverberiren, die Massam aus dem Glaß zu nehmen, zu reiben, wieder imbibiren, abstrahiren, exsicciren, coaguliren, reverberiren, von B. M. in Aschen, von dieser in Sand, denn in Hammerschlag, hernach ins offene Feuer zu setzen, welche Modos kein eintziger aus denen Philosophis gelehret. Dazu zeiget er nichts an de Separatione Foecum, sondern läßt Speck und Dreck s. v. und alles beysammen, welches die Philosophi absolute & strenue befehlen hinweg zu thun, sonst würde das Werck eher zu Gifft als Medicin werden: Die Philosophi sagen auch, man solle die Hitze nimmer ausgehen lassen. Antwort: Daß dieses Werck lang und verdrießlich sey, gestehe ich selbst, und habe es nicht darum hieher gesetzt, daß man also nothwendig procediren müsse, sondern darum, damit ein Leser sehe, wie das chaotische Wasser gar schön in seine Gradus subtilitatis & fixitatis könne abgetheilet werden, verlange auch nicht, dahin zu weisen, daß er solchen Weg gehen soll, ausser er wolle solchen Curiositatis gratia vornehmen; sonst giebt es wohl kürtzere und lustigere, wie nachfolgend etliche Modi werden angezeiget werden.

1723 pp 254–256

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

1723 pp 254–256

“This man, however, orders us to conjoin the parts and continually distil off, imbibe again, dry, coagulate, reverberate, remove the mass from the glass, grind it, imbibe again, draw off, dry, coagulate, reverberate, and transfer from the water bath to ashes, from ashes to sand, then to hammer-scale and open fire. Not one philosopher has taught these methods. Moreover he says nothing about separating the dregs, but leaves grease and filth—pardon the expression—and all together, which philosophers absolutely and strenuously command us to remove, lest the work become poison rather than medicine. They also say the heat must never be allowed to go out.” I answer: I myself admit that this work is long and irksome. I have not set it here because one must necessarily proceed so, but to show the reader how beautifully chaotic water can be divided into degrees of subtlety and fixity. Nor do I intend to direct him to follow this path unless he wishes to undertake it for curiosity’s sake. There are shorter and more agreeable methods, several of which will be shown below.

1723 pp 254–256

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.