SYMBOLS

The nations that gathered.

...divided, over all of whom that famous HERMES the Egyptian stood as if KING and standard-bearer original: "antesignanus" – a soldier who fought in front of the standards, or a leader/commander., along with his own countrymen and neighbors. After him came the Hebrews, soon the Greeks, next the Romans, fifth the Arabs, sixth the Germans, seventh the French, eighth the Italians, ninth the Spanish, tenth the English, eleventh the Hungarians, and finally the Sarmatians Sarmatians: A classical term Maier uses to refer to the Slavic peoples, specifically the Poles. marched in order. Each of these nations chose a leader for themselves, who alone would cast the vote original: "calculum ferret" – literally "to bear the pebble," referring to the ancient practice of using stones to vote. for their entire TRIBE, just as is usually done in other great councils or assemblies, where the wishes and voices of the many are concentrated into the votes of a few chosen representatives.

The Captains of each nation.

The names of the Leaders or Captains were these: after the aforementioned Egyptian Hermes, there was Maria the Jewess Also known as Mary the Prophetess; an early alchemical figure credited with the invention of several types of chemical apparatus, including the "bain-marie" or water bath., Democritus the Greek, Morienus the Roman, Avicenna the Arab, Albertus Magnus the German, Arnold of Villanova the Frenchman, Thomas Aquinas the Italian, Raymond Lull the Spaniard, Roger Bacon the Englishman, Melchior of Sibiu the Hungarian, and the Anonymous Sarmatian. All these, joined with their common followers, formed a phalanx of veteran soldiers Triarii The "Triarii" were the elite, veteran third line of a Roman legion, called upon only in the most desperate or decisive moments of a battle. not to be despised, stationed within the boundaries of the CASTLE OF CHEMISTRY.

When Hermes saw them gathered at the Queen’s Referring to the personified "Virgin Chemistry" mentioned on the previous page. command, and had examined each of them more carefully, he said: "BEHOLD, this is that light by which we must all do battle against the Queen’s most bitter Adversary; for just as he has been harmful and slanderous toward her until now, so must he be dealt with original: "dedolandus" – literally "to be hewn away" or "smoothed down," as if finishing a rough piece of wood or stone. by us."