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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 380 of 504

II.5 · The Anatomy and Regeneration of Chaotic Water

German & Latin

1723 pp 305–306

1. Theil. Sine Separatione Faecum. Rec. ein putrificirtes Regen-Wasser, trübes zusammen auf, thue es in eine Blase, distillire die Spir. subtiliores ab, so hast du das Volatile, dieses behalte besonders. Denn distillire weiter, so bekommst du ein grobes Phlegma, solches distillire bis auf einen noch ziemlich feuchten Liquorem; das Saltz zu purificiren und edulcoriren zu diesem Werck, ist ein Superfluum. Den residirenden Liquorem thue aus der Vesic in eine Retorte, und distillire aus der Asche oder Sand ein Phlegma, Acidum und Oehl, thue das Residuum in einen Kolben, gieß sein Oehl und Acidum drauf, setze es in B. M. ziehe in einem hohen Kolben mit Alembic, so was gehen will, ab, und digerire 4. oder 6. Tag und Nacht, hernach gieß seinen obern Spir. volatilem drauf, laß ihn in primo Gradu B. M. digeriren 2. oder 4. Tag und Nacht, distillire alles, was gehen will, per Gradus, denn, so nichts mehr gehen will, setze in Aschen, coagulire es und reverberire es per 2. Gradum 3. calcinire es, bis daß es eine Farbe auf dem Boden bekommt, nimms aus, reibe es zu Pulver, gieß seinen in B. M. und Aschen abgezogenen Liquorem wieder drauf, setze in B. M. 2. Tag und Nacht, denn distillire alles wieder ab, was gehen will, diß behalte, wie zuvor, zu fernerer Imbibition. Wenn nun alles ex B. M. distilliret ist, so setze in Aschen, und distillire die Humidität gar ab, bis auf die Trockene. Hernach figire es per Gradus omnes Cineris, denn in Sand, wie ich im ersten ausführlich gesagt, so hast du die Quintam Essentiam und Magisterium Macrocosmi, und ist so gut als nachfolgende.

1723 pp 305–306

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

1723 pp 305–306

First method. Without separating dregs. Take putrefied rainwater, stir up its turbidity, and put it in a still. Distil the subtler spirits off: this is the volatile, to be kept separately. Continue distilling coarse phlegm until a fairly moist liquor remains. Purifying and edulcorating the salt is superfluous for this work. Transfer the remaining liquor from still to retort and distil phlegm, acid, and oil in ashes or sand. Put the residue in a flask and pour its oil and acid on it. In the water bath, using a tall flask and alembic, draw off whatever passes and digest four or six days and nights. Add its upper volatile spirit, digest at the water bath’s first degree for two or four days and nights, and distil by degrees everything that will pass. When nothing more passes, set it in ashes, coagulate, and reverberate through the second and third degrees; calcine until a colour appears at the bottom. Remove it, grind to powder, and return the liquor drawn off in the bath and ashes. Set in the bath two days and nights, then distil everything that will pass, preserving it as before for further imbibition. After the water bath, set in ashes and distil all moisture to dryness. Fix through all degrees of ashes, then in sand, as first explained at length. You have the quintessence and magistery of the macrocosm, as good as the following.

1723 pp 305–306

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.