Azoth

Use in the book

The term first accompanies the description of Magnesia as the natural and artful regeneration field. At pp. 52–532 the subject may have been resolved into pri-material water and remain Azothically watery, or become Azothically coagulated and fixed. Azoth is therefore not confined in this book to a liquid stage. Its applicability continues through changes in the condition of the matter.

The rejection of metallic embryos supplies a functional test. At pp. 79–802 the required thing, after Azotic watery preparation, has the natural pri-material power to reduce silver and gold into first matter. Khunrath immediately identifies the relevant catholic Mercury as being in the pri-material Magnesia of the Wise. Prepared liquors from specified metallic bodies do not become Azoth merely because they are clear or watery.

The central account is most explicit at pp. 97–982: first matter, most limpidly purified, is Azoth, the ensouled, catholic, living Mercury. Taken by itself without silvern or golden addition and regenerated through the stated work, it becomes more-than-perfected Azoth and the universal glorified Stone. The repeated name emphasizes continuity of subject alongside transformation of state. It also clarifies why the universal route differs from a route which specifies the matter toward silver or gold.

Later, Khunrath laments that otherwise able chymists have not proceeded Azothically from this foundation. He ends the discussion of metallic salts by rejecting supposed excellence achieved outside Magnesia's pri-material Azoth. The word consequently serves as a test of origin and manner of preparation, not as a portable synonym for any strong dissolving agent.

Places to read

1. 1599 p. 52Azothic water and subsequent coagulation or fixation are both allowed; the sentence continues on p. 53.
2. 1599 p. 52 · margin2AZOTH is supplied as a standalone primary gloss.
3. 1599 p. 79Azotic watery preparation is associated with genuine pri-material reducing power.
4. 1599 p. 97Purified first matter is explicitly equated with Azoth and living catholic Mercury.
5. 1599 p. 98The same Azoth is regenerated and more-than-perfected without metallic addition.
6. 1599 p. 128The salt discussion returns to Magnesia’s pri-material Azoth as the indispensable ground.

Translation in this edition

“Azotic” and “Azothically” are the supplied translator's deliberate English coinages for Khunrath's derivatives. Modern note 1599 p. 52 · note 106 offers an alphabetic explanation of the name; the primary treatise does not present that derivation.