SUMMARY OF THE INDIVIDUAL BOOKS

BOOK 1 Concerning the Egyptian Hieroglyphic In Maier's time, before the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, hieroglyphs were believed to be purely symbolic or mystical icons representing hidden philosophical truths. Deities: Osiris, Isis, Mercury, Vulcan, Typhon, etc.; and concerning the marvelous works of the Kings, the characters of individual living creatures, and other monuments pertaining to this subject.

BOOK 2 Concerning the allegories of the Greeks, especially the "golden" ones, such as the Golden Fleece of Jason, the Golden Apples of the Hesperides, etc., which denote nothing other than the golden medicine The "golden medicine" refers to the Philosopher's Stone or the Universal Panacea, which alchemists believed could cure all diseases and transmute base metals into gold..

BOOK 3 Concerning the golden fictitious genealogy of the gods and goddesses, whether Philosophical or Chemico-medical original: "Chymico-medica." This refers to iatrochemistry, the school of thought that used chemical treatments rather than just herbal ones to cure illness..

BOOK 4 Concerning the festivals and sacred rites, as well as the contests and games, established for the sake of this science Maier argues that ancient religious festivals were actually public commemorations of secret alchemical processes..

BOOK 5 Concerning the Labors of Hercules, which signify the same craftsmanship artificium The "Artificium" or "Great Work" is the step-by-step process of creating the Philosopher's Stone..

I BOOK 6 Concerning the Trojan expedition and the requirements without which Troy could not be captured, and the wanderings of Ulysses, pertaining to the same original: "Ulyssis." Maier interprets the Odyssey and the Iliad as massive alchemical allegories..