TO THE READER.

Diocletian

...to compile the remains of chemistryoriginal Greek: χυμείας (chymeias). At this time, "chemistry" and "alchemy" were used interchangeably to mean the art of transmuting metals.. That is, Chemistry is the making of gold and silver; Diocletian sought out and burned the books of this art because the Egyptians had attempted a revolution against him. He treated them harshly and as enemies. At that time, he also tracked down and burned the books written by the ancients concerning the chemistry of gold and silver, so that the Egyptians might no longer gain wealth from that art, nor, relying on an abundance of money, rebel against the Romans in the future. These are his words. Nor do they differ from other historians describing Diocletian. Moreover, the ancient Poets suggested that this art not only existed, but also how it is to be practiced, most perfectly through delightful fables, yet enigmaticallyoriginal Greek: αἰνιγματικῶς (ainigmatikōs); meaning in riddles or allegories.. For what else is the Golden Fleece sought by the Argonauts from Colchis, if not the investigation and shadow-sketch of this art? Concerning which SuidasA 10th-century Byzantine Greek historical encyclopedia. says elsewhere: This is not as it is poetically reported, but it was a book written on skins, containing how gold ought to be made through chemistry. Justly, therefore, the men of that age named it the Golden Fleece, because of the power derived from it. original Greek: τοῦτο δὲ οὐχ’ ὡς ποιητικῶς φέρεται ἀλλὰ βιβλίον ἦν ἐν δέρμασι γεγραμμένον. περιέχον ὅπως δεῖ γίνεσθαι διὰ χυμείας χρυσός. εἰκότως οὖν. οἱ τότε χρυσοῦν ὠνόμαζον αὐτὸ δέρας, διὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν, τὴν ἐξ αὐτοῦ. The Golden Fleece is not given to Jason unless he first undergoes certain and dangerous labors; that is, unless he first learns the practiceoriginal Greek: πρᾶξιν (praxin); the hands-on laboratory work as opposed to mere theory. by working with his own hands. For he possesses a book written about this art in vain who is ignorant of the practice. Furthermore, the dangerous voyage indicates the difficulty of searching out the matter of the Philosophers' Stone (as they call it). That matter, because it holds the place of the earth and is metallic, is called the Field of Mars (the god of metals); and because it must be purged, prepared, and perfected in fire so that it is fit to receive the seed, it is feigned to be plowed and cultivated by Bulls breathing fire. These Bulls are the furnaces, which, unless they are rightly constructed and provide a continuous fire in the due amount, either the matter is ruined or the vessels are destroyed, and the craftsman is struck by a noxious odor or even perishes in the fire. Next, the ever-watchful Dragon is QuicksilverMercury.. The Dragon's Teeth are Sublimated MercuryMercury that has been heated into a vapor and solidified again; here described as corrosive and toxic., because it possesses the whiteness of ivory, the hardness of bone, and an incredible "biting" quality, not without poison. While it is being sublimated, it is received in a glass vessel very similar to a helmet (the Arabs call it an alembicA classic alchemical still used for distillation.); and so the Dragon's teeth are brought to Jason in a Helmet, so that he may scatter them in the place of seed into the Field of Mars. For Mercury must be sublimated from that earth so many times until it is fixed in it. While this happens, it rises out of the earth in the manner of little spears, of which some are erect, some inclined, some entirely transverse, and as if aimed at the throats of enemies; they grow continuously in length so that they seem to move, appearing like a most dense army even now most fiercely clashing...