Diotimos Library · Renaissance Collection · Bilingual Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
The 1599 German text with a new English translation, introduction, glossary, and notes.
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Facing Pages · Branch 191 of 215
Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 184
Early New High German
p. 184werden; vnnd wird Auffschliessen vnd Zuschliessen / vnd finden VOARCH BETH ADAMOTH, ja alles / was sein Philosophisch Hertz begehret.
Bey dieser MAGNESIA, IHSVH von Nazareth / GOTTES vnd MARIAE des Menschen SOHNES Symbolischen Contrafect vnd vnleugbaren vergleichung aus der NATVR, die Alleine ist / vnnd sein mus / die wahre MAGNESIA Philosophorum CATHOLICA, vnnd keine ander oder frembde / (Sintemal von jhr / ALSO / SYMBOLICE auch zeugen die heiligen Biblischen Schrifften / neben dem hellen Liecht der NATVR, vnnd allen Naturkündigen Philosophis, wo sie die Warheit / ohne superfluitet vnnd zusatz / geschrieben / das diese sey jhr CHAOS Catholicon vnnd MAGNESIA
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 184become; and will Unlock and Lock up, and will find VOARCH BETH ADAMOTH: yea, all that his Philosophical Heart desires.
By this MAGNESIA — the Symbolical Likeness and undeniable comparison, out of NATURE, of IHSVH of Nazareth, the SON of GOD and of MARY the human being; which alone is, and must be, the true CATHOLIC MAGNESIA of the Philosophers, and no other or strange one (since the holy Biblical Scriptures also testify of her THUS, SYMBOLICALLY, alongside the clear Light of NATURE, and all Nature-knowing Philosophers too, where they have written the Truth without superfluity and addition: that this is their CHAOS Catholicon and MAGNESIA
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 184
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum argues that alchemy has one universal subject, that this subject cannot be extracted from the metals, and that nothing in the work can begin without recognizing it. This complete reader begins with the supplied seven-part introduction and orientation, then presents every printed page of the 1599 German treatise opposite its new English translation.
Historical Text and Translation
The German reading text is a fresh diplomatic transcription from 600 dpi images of the Magdeburg copy printed by Johann Bötcher in 1599. It preserves Khunrath’s capitalization, word division, authorial marginal keys, glosses, errata, and three unnumbered closing pages: the errata leaf, owl emblem, and colophon.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared the new English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, collation, and editorial apparatus. The translation follows Khunrath directly, retaining his technical vocabulary, changes of register, repetitions, rhetorical questions, and distinctions between German, Latin, and coined terms.
Rights
Heinrich Khunrath’s 1599 German work is in the public domain. The 2026 English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, editorial arrangement, and related matter are original to this edition and remain © 2026 Diotimos.