Restored Hermetic Science of the Ancient Philosophers

(6)

...until it Referring to the "subject" or matter of the alchemical work mentioned on the previous page. knows itself to be cleansed from all corruption, and to return to that pristine health in which it was created. original Latin: "cum se Cognoverit âb omni Corruptione mundatam, & ad pristinam sanitatem, in quam Condita fuit Redire."

In the Pandora Likely referring to Pandora: Das ist, Die edelste Gab Gottes (1582), a famous German alchemical compendium edited by Hieronymus Reusner., and in the works of Lacinius and Bernhard Likely Bernard Trevisan (1406–1490), a celebrated Italian alchemist., many illustrious men are cited who possessed this divine art. In particular, one reads in the books of the philosophers that the children of Israel knew this noble art, and through it, they produced much gold The symbol ☉ represents the Sun and the metal Gold. and silver The symbol ☽ represents the Moon and the metal Silver. for the construction and adornment of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Indeed, the Egyptians also became so powerful in wealth and might through this art, that even the Emperor Diocletianus The Roman Emperor Diocletian (r. 284–305 CE). Historically, he is said to have ordered the burning of Egyptian alchemical texts in 296 CE to prevent the Egyptians from funding revolts., when he had occupied Alexandria, dedicated all the chemical writings to Vulcan original Latin: "Vulcano dicaverit." In alchemical literature, "dedicating to Vulcan" is a poetic way of saying the books were burned, as Vulcan was the god of fire., lest they increase their riches from this source and tear the Roman Empire apart through war.

Of Pythagoras The famous Greek philosopher and mathematician., it is read that he investigated this science so deeply that he overlaid his entire thigh with such a thick layer of gold that it was judged to be entirely made of gold. This refers to the legend of Pythagoras’s "Golden Thigh," which alchemists often interpreted literally as a sign of his success in transmutation.

Furthermore, the mother of Numa Pompilius The legendary second king of Rome, known for his wisdom and for establishing Roman religious rites., being very well taught in these arts, instructed her son in...