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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 431 of 504

9 the Anatomy of Minerals

German & Latin

1723 pp 360–362

Wilst du aber solchen liquorem oder Oehl distilliren, coaguliren und figiren, so ist mehr nichts zu thun, als daß du in einen nicht gar zu niedrigen Kolben solchen liquorem per gradus in B. M. 30. Tag und Nacht sub Alembico cum recipiente coquendo digerirest, und das humidum superfluum abstrahirest, und so im B. M. nichts mehr steigen will, so setze in Aschen, und ziehe per 1. 2. 3. gradus alle phlegma oder schwachen Geist subtil ab, das residuum nimm aus, thue es in eine Phiole, setz in Aschen zu coaguliren, so wird daraus ein saltziger Stein, flüssig im Feuer als Oehl, und gestehet in der Lufft als ein Eiß, und darffst die Phiole nicht verstopffen, denn es steigt nicht leicht auf. Also hast du Q. E. der mineren auch, allein gantz corrosivisch und der menschlichen Natur noch schädlich, denn es ist jetzt noch mineralisch. Soll es dem Menschen nutzbar seyn, so muß es per vegetabilia & animalia transmutiret werden in vegetabile & animale, denn die vegetabilia und animalia sind des Menschen Speise, und nicht das Minerale, welches nachgehends soll erkläret werden. Was aber die durchs Feuer gebrachte mineralia anbelanget, als da ist der [Sulphur] com., [Antimonium], das feine ☉, ☽, ♂, ♀, ♄, ♃, solche müssen wir wieder per homogenea principia zurücke bringen, und dasjenige addiren, was ihnen durchs Feuer genommen worden ist. Nun ist dem [Antimonium] crudo sein acidus Spiritus sulphureus & Arsenicalis samt seiner steinigten Mutter genommen worden, vermittelst welchem acido der [Antimonium] leichter cum adjuvante universali vel minerali acido Vitriolino hätte können in esse primum reduciret werden. Dem Sulphur com. welcher aus dem Schwefel-Kieß gemacht wird, ist sein Spiritus sulphureus & oleum, item das kupfferhaffte Wesen benommen worden, aus welchem der Vitriol heraus gelanget wird; dem ☉, ☽ und andern Metallen sind auch dergleichen partes genommen worden.

1723 pp 360–362

The Golden Chain of Homer: 9 the Anatomy of Minerals

1723 pp 360–362

If you wish to distil, coagulate, and fix this liquor or oil, nothing further is required than to digest it by cooking, by degrees, for thirty days and nights in a water bath, in a flask that is not too low, under an alembic with receiver, withdrawing the superfluous moisture. When nothing more will rise in the bath, set it in ashes and gently draw off all phlegm or weak spirit through the first, second, and third degrees. Remove the residue, put it in a phial, and set it in ashes to coagulate. It becomes a saline stone, liquid as oil in fire and setting like ice in the air. The phial need not be stopped, for it does not readily rise. You thus have the quintessence of ores too, but entirely corrosive and still harmful to human nature, because it remains mineral. To benefit human beings, it must be transmuted through plants and animals into vegetable and animal nature. Plants and animals are human food, not the mineral; this will be explained below. As for minerals that have passed through fire—common sulphur, antimony, refined gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, and tin—we must bring these backward again through homogeneous principles, adding what fire has taken away. Crude antimony has been deprived of its acid sulphurous and arsenical spirit, together with its stony mother. Through this acid, assisted by universal or mineral vitriolic acid, antimony could have been reduced more readily to its first being. Common sulphur made from sulphur pyrites has lost its sulphurous spirit and oil, and the coppery being from which vitriol is obtained. Gold, silver, and the other metals have likewise lost such parts.

1723 pp 360–362

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.