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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 354 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 280–281

Die Mineralia aber müssen noch eine grössere Hitze haben, ja die innerliche starcke Central-Hitze, dadurch sie auf unterschiedliche Manier bis zum Stein coaguliret werden; denn je näher die Minerae dem Centro terrae sind, je stärckere Hitze müssen sie ausstehen: Gleich in eines Thieres Magen die gröste natürliche Hitze concentriret ist, zuförderst im Winter; also ist es in des grossen Demogorgonis Ventriculo oder Centro terrae die gröste Hitze concentriret, sonst könte die Natur nicht so überflüßige Vapores und Dämpffe bis ad extremam Terrae Superficiem aufsublimiren oder distilliren. Je näher nun ein Subjectum dem Centro liegt, je stärcker wird es figiret, wenn es nur von der copiösen stets aufsteigenden Feuchtigkeit nicht verhindert wird, wie man die besten und stärcksten Metall-Adern gegen dem Centro zu findet, und die Aeste vel Rami in Circumferentia gantz klein extendiret, weil die Central-Hitze je höher selbe steiget, je mehr sie erkühlet wird, daß sie nicht alles vollkommen figiren kan. Daher an den meisten Orten viel Mineralia zu Tag ausstreichen, welche nicht vollkommen zu Metall, sondern zu Salpeter, Alaun, Schwefel-Kieß, Marcasit, Blenden, Zwitter etc. maturiret, nutriret sind. Es wird aber einer einen Einwurff thun und sagen: Wenn die Natur die Mineralia in so starcker Hitze und trocken bearbeitet, warum ist denn so viel Wasser in der Erde und noch mehr in Centro?

1723 pp 280–281

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

1723 pp 280–281

Minerals require still greater heat: the strong inward central heat by which they are coagulated in various ways even into stone. The nearer ores are to the earth’s centre, the stronger the heat they must endure. As an animal’s greatest natural heat is concentrated in its stomach, especially in winter, so the greatest heat is concentrated in the great Demogorgon’s stomach, or the earth’s centre. Otherwise nature could not sublime or distil so abundant a quantity of vapours to the earth’s outermost surface. The nearer a subject lies to the centre, the more strongly it is fixed, unless the abundant continually rising moisture hinders it. The best and strongest metallic veins are found toward the centre, with branches extending very finely toward the circumference. As central heat rises, it cools and cannot fix everything perfectly. Thus in most places many minerals crop out at the surface, matured or nourished not fully into metal but into nitre, alum, sulphur-pyrites, marcasite, blendes, tin-bearing mixed ores, and so forth. Someone will object: “If nature works minerals dry and in such strong heat, why is there so much water within earth and still more at its centre?”

1723 pp 280–281

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.