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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 Homer9 the Anatomy of Minerals

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German & Latin Page · Branch 419 of 504

9 the Anatomy of Minerals

German & Latin

1723 pp 345–346

Dieses Reich ist dem Augenschein nach von dem animalischen und vegetabilischen gantz unterschieden: wiewol sie innerlich eins sind, nur daß die mineralia stärcker und mehr fermentiret, digeriret, coaguliret und figiret sind, und weil sie das überflüßige aqua recolacea oder humidum superfluum samt denen höchst flüchtigen Saamen, oder spiritibus volatilibus durch die stärckern gradus caloris ausgejaget, und weil sie trockener und steinigter Natur sind, scheinen sie vorgehenden zuwider und contrair. Wer es aber im Grunde betrachtet, macht sich keinen scrupel, wie vielfältig gelehret ist. Nun habe ich oben gesagt, daß die vegetabilia und animalia aus dem flüchtigen Universal oder Saamen geboren sind, und werden eben durch solchen Saamen wieder ad primum reduciret und regeneriret; die mineralia aber sind aus dem fixern Theil des universal-spermatis entsprungen, als aus dem Salpeter und Saltz, und zwar aus diesen beyden starck fermentirten und spiritualischen corrosivischen Dampff, mit einem Wort, aus dem Sp. Nitri & salis beyden zusammen gemischten, als welche aus gewaltthätiger Weise die zu Stein verwandelte Erde anfallen, zernagen, corrodiren, und samt sich in eine vitriolinische oder alaunische Gur solviren und verkehren. Gleichwie nun solche aus dem fixen, spiritual-universal-spermate oder Sp. Salis & Nitri geboren werden, also müssen sie auch wieder durch eben solche Saamen, oder Sp. Nitri & Salis eines ins andere seinem grad nach resolviret und reduciret werden in ein essentialisches Saltz oder [Vitriol] und dieses zurück in einen Dampff, oder corrosivisches Wasser, als seinen Ursprung, nach dem axiomate: Ex quo aliquid est, in illud rursus resolvitur, & per quod aliquid fit, per illud ipsum resolvi necesse est. Sed sunt omnia mineralia & metalla ex spermate universali fixiori spirituali seu Ω [Nitrum] & [Sal] ut saepe probatum; ergo necesse est, ut per sperma fixum spirituale resolvantur in primum.

1723 pp 345–346

The Golden Chain of Homer: 9 the Anatomy of Minerals

1723 pp 345–346

To outward appearance this kingdom differs entirely from the animal and vegetable, although inwardly they are one. Minerals have only been more strongly and thoroughly fermented, digested, coagulated, and fixed. Stronger degrees of heat have driven out their superfluous recolacean water or moisture, together with their most volatile seed or volatile spirits. Because they are drier and stony by nature, they seem opposed and contrary to the preceding kingdoms. But anyone who considers the matter fundamentally has no scruple, as has been taught repeatedly. I said above that plants and animals are born from the volatile universal principle or seed, and through this same seed are reduced to their first state and regenerated. Minerals, however, have sprung from the more fixed part of the universal seed, saltpetre and salt: specifically, from the strongly fermented, spiritual, corrosive vapour of these two. In a word, they arise from spirits of nitre and salt mixed together, which violently attack the earth changed into stone, gnaw and corrode it, and dissolve and transform it, together with themselves, into a vitriolic or aluminous gur. Since minerals are born from the fixed spiritual universal seed, or spirits of salt and nitre, they must also be resolved and reduced by the same seed or spirits of nitre and salt, from one condition to another according to their degree, into an essential salt or vitriol. This must return to vapour or corrosive water, its origin, according to the axiom: what a thing comes from, into that it is resolved again; and through what a thing is made, through that very thing it must be dissolved. But all minerals and metals come from the more fixed spiritual universal seed, or spirits of nitre and salt, as often demonstrated. They must therefore be resolved into their first state through fixed spiritual seed.

1723 pp 345–346

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.