Two Dialogues on Alchemy

96 ¶ By the Phoenix, which always returns to life, they understood the multiplication of the Elixir. The Phoenix represents the final stage of the alchemical work, where the substance’s power is increased or "multiplied" by repeated heating and cooling.

97 ¶ Under the name and story of Demogorgon, they hid the material and the practice of this art. Demogorgon was viewed as a primordial creator deity, representing the raw, chaotic source of all matter.

5 98 ¶ The Chaos of the ancients is our Saturn. original: "Chaos ueterum, eſt noſter Saturnus." Saturn is the alchemical name for lead, often considered the "chaotic" or heavy starting material.

99 ¶ The Elixir cannot be made from silver.

100 ¶ The Elixir is made from imperfect metals.

101 ¶ Imperfect metals are intermediate minerals.

102 ¶ The opinion of those who made the Elixir from common lead.

10 103 ¶ The opinion of some who affirm that the Elixir should be made from tin.

104 ¶ The Elixir can be made neither from tin nor from common lead, since they are unclean in their root.

105 ¶ The first order is of preparation, the second is of fixation, and the third is of the multiplication of the Elixir. fixation: The process of making a substance stable under heat so it does not evaporate.

15 106 ¶ From the burnt dregs, our Mercury is extracted, with which multiplication is performed. Mercury: In this context, it refers to the refined "spirit" or liquid essence of the metal, not necessarily common quicksilver.

107 ¶ Copper and common iron are pure and clean in their root.

108 ¶ The Elixir should not be made from common copper.

20 109 ¶ The ore of our copper is a salt, called Saturn.

110 ¶ The opinion that the Elixir cannot be made from common iron.

111 ¶ From the tradition of Geber and all the Philosophers, it is further proven: the Elixir is made from common iron. Geber is the Latinized name of Jabir ibn Hayyan, an influential eighth-century chemist and alchemist.

112 ¶ The vessel for the distillation of Mercury should be similar to a flat table, or one with a small concavity.

25 113 ¶ The Elixir is made from common iron because it has more fixed sulfur than other metals. It is also because its spirits are more powerful, and because its earthiness is easily separated from it. It is easily reduced to the first matter. Furthermore, the prepared Mercury of that iron 30 defends its sulfur better from burning. This material is incomplete and an intermediate mineral, containing the extremes of power within it, and it is the ore of the philosophical gold. fixed sulfur: A substance that provides stability and color to metals and does not vaporize when heated.

114 ¶ The ancient Philosophers signified through various riddles and analogies that the Elixir is composed from iron.