VI.

Preface

After the fantasies of many centuries, the truth about alchemy—namely, that it is nothing but deception and fraud—has finally been brought into the light of day.

Chemistry was still in its infancy until the time of Constantine the GreatConstantine I (reigned 306–337 AD), the Roman Emperor who legalized Christianity. The author suggests scientific progress was minimal until late antiquity. *). For what one reads regarding Hermes TrismegistusA legendary figure, supposedly an ancient Egyptian priest and philosopher, to whom many foundational (and often mystical) alchemical texts were attributed. is nothing but fairy tales.

*) Torbern Bergmann’s Dissertation on the Origins of Chemistryoriginal Latin title: "diss. de primordiis Chemiae". Uppsalaoriginal Latin: "Upsaliae", 1779. Quarto formatoriginal: "4.", referring to the book size where each sheet is folded twice to create four leaves.. German translation by Mr. Joh.