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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 344 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 272–273

Weil er aber solche Krafft in Forma roris & pluviae nicht hat, sondern alsdenn erst, wie Hermes sagt, Vis ejus integra est, si versa fuerit in Terram: Deßwegen muß man den dilatirten Geist und Wasser concentriren, coaguliren und figiren, alsdenn hat er Vim integram & Fortitudinem fortissimam. Daß ich aber solches Wasser ein Recolaceum heisse, ist nicht nach seinem Inwendigen zu verstehen, sondern nach seinem Auswendigen, das ist, secundum Termini positionem & non secundum Virtutem ubi insitam. Denn wenn die Termini als Wörter gelten, so sagt ja mancher Mensch: Dieses Ding ist mir nichts nutz; soll es darum negative & totaliter in Universum nichts nutze seyn? Nein, sondern ist es dir nichts nutz, so ist es einem andern nutz, taugt es zu diesen nicht, so taugt es zu einem andern. Gleichwie der verworffene Eckstein endlich zum nützlichsten Stein und Feste des Gebäudes wurde: Also ist das Aqua recolacea, welches ob es wohl inutile Phlegma intitulirt wird, so hat es doch solche Virtutem operandi in sich, und ist des concentrirten Geistes sein proprium Vehiculum vermittelst welchen der Geist oder Quint. Essent. so es in den krancken Leib eingegeben wird, der concentrirte Geist wieder aufgewecket, und mit dem morbosen Archeo vermischt, womit der Archeus gestärcket wird, seinen Morbum oder Feind auszuweiden. Es soll aber der Leser Mentem meam recht verstehen, und nicht also gleich mich contradicentem heissen etc.

1723 pp 272–273

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

1723 pp 272–273

But it does not have that power as dew and rain. It does so only when, as Hermes says, “Its power is complete if it has been turned into earth.” Therefore the expanded spirit and water must be concentrated, coagulated, and fixed; then it has complete power and the strongest strength. Calling such water recolaceous concerns its outward condition, not its inward nature: the placement of a term, not the power inherent within it. Someone says, “This thing is useless to me.” Must it therefore be negatively, totally, universally useless? No: useless to you, it may be useful to another; unsuitable for this, suitable for something else. As the rejected cornerstone finally became the building’s most useful stone and support, so recolaceous water, though entitled useless phlegm, still possesses power of action. It is the concentrated spirit’s own vehicle. Through it, spirit or quintessence administered to a sick body is awakened again and mixed with the diseased Archeus, strengthening the Archeus to expel its disease or enemy. Let the reader understand my intention correctly rather than immediately calling me contradictory.

1723 pp 272–273

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.