Bink Hallum on the Extended Zosimus
In the last episode, with Matteo Martelli, we covered the basics of Zosimus of Panopolis in Greek and Syriac: times and dates, questions of authenticity, chemical recipes, but also a fascinating world view with elements of astral stuff, Hermetic lore, alphanumeric speculation, and all the things we love about Zos.
Primary Sources
Collection of Ancient Greek Alchemists, Part 1
Marcellin Berthelot and Charles-Émile Ruelle document the true origins of chemistry. They prove that ancient alchemists were originally goldsmiths who mastered the art of faking precious metals. Through the analysis of the Leiden Papyri, the authors show how these deceptive laboratory practices slow
Collection of Ancient Greek Alchemists, Part 2
This text compiles the authentic writings of Zosimus, the foundational voice of Western alchemy. It moves past simple chemistry to argue that metal transmutation is a Gnostic struggle between body and soul. Zosimus claims that if you fail to turn bodies into spirits, you will never achieve the Philo
Collection of Ancient Greek Alchemists, Part 3
Marcellin Berthelot and Charles-Émile Ruelle compile a raw, unfiltered archive of Greek alchemical thought. You will encounter ancient lab manuals that treat metallurgy as a religious duty and a scientific puzzle. These texts argue that base materials like copper hold a hidden perfection that only t