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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 356 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 282–283

Was aber nicht an Tag heraus laufft, jedoch in solchen Wassern bleibet, das praecipitiret sich zu seiner Zeit dennoch und werden daraus allerhand Electra, Gummata und allerhand mineralische Säffte und Berg-Wachs; was aber ad Centrum rinnet, das giebt ferner Anlaß wieder ad Circumferentiam aufsublimiret zu werden und ad Locum terminatum, seine Speciem anzunehmen, getragen. Derowegen wenn die Natur solte durch unterirdische Wasser so verhindert seyn, warum grabet der Bergmann lauter trockene steinigte Ertze heraus, hart und felsicht etc. und keine weiche schleimichte? Auch wird bey denen Ertzen kein Wasser gefunden, als was etwan die unterirdische copiose Dämpffe sind, die da sich in unterschiedliche Klumpen resolviren und überhäuffen, als ein kleines Brünnlein zwischen denen Metall-Adern zuweilen heraus lauffen. Daß ich aber die Hitze interrumpire und also das Werck erkalte, so soll der Künstler nicht gedencken, daß ich allhier trachte Animalia zu generiren, sondern stein-fixe Sachen, welche nicht so leicht verderben, da mir die Natur eben den Weg zeiget, die da bey Tage kochet und die Geschöpffe durch die Sonne erwärmet, zu Nacht aber solche durch den Mond befeuchtet und abkühlet, und die Hitze ohne Schaden interrumpiret. Meistens aber soll der Leser mercken, daß die Kunst nicht verlanget also zu generiren, wie die Natur, denn solches wäre ein unnützer und überflüßiger Vorwitz, weil uns die Natur selbst solcher Mühe überhebet.

1723 pp 282–283

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

1723 pp 282–283

What does not flow into daylight but remains in such waters nevertheless precipitates in its time, producing various ambers, gums, mineral juices, and mountain wax. What runs to the centre provides further occasion to be sublimed again toward the circumference and carried to a designated place to assume its species. If subterranean water so hindered nature, why does a miner dig out dry, stony, hard, rocky ores rather than soft slimy ones? Nor is water found among ores except from abundant subterranean vapours that resolve and collect in different masses, sometimes flowing out as a little spring between metallic veins. As for interrupting heat and letting the work cool, the practitioner should remember that I am not trying to generate animals, but stonily fixed things that do not spoil so easily. Nature shows the way: by day it cooks and warms creatures through the sun; at night it moistens and cools them through the moon, interrupting heat without harm. Above all, note that art does not seek to generate just as nature does. That would be useless, superfluous curiosity, since nature itself spares us that labour.

1723 pp 282–283

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.