Source Library provides the primary texts — we are not affiliated with SHWEP.
Episode 233·March 1, 2023·late-magic

Bink Hallum on Zosimus Arabicus: The Final Quittance

Bink Hallum has written the book on the Arabic Zosimus, and in this special episode, for the hardcore lovers of the history of alchemy, we go through the textual corpus of Zosimus in Arabic in a detailed way, discussing what’s there, how much definitely goes back to original Greek alchemical text...

Listen on SHWEP5 sources in collection · 5 translated

Primary Sources

Collection of the Ancient Greek Alchemists, Vol. 1

Marcellin Berthelot · 1887 · French · 532 pages

Marcellin Berthelot strips away the centuries of legend surrounding alchemy to reveal its messy, practical origins in the workshops of antiquity. He documents the transition from mundane metal coloring and alloy fabrication to the birth of a global obsession with turning base metals into gold. The t

Fully translated

Collection of Ancient Greek Alchemists, Part 1

Marcellin Berthelot & Charles-Émile Ruelle · 1887 · French · 387 pages

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

76% translated

Collection of the Ancient Greek Alchemists, Vols. 2-3

Marcellin Berthelot · 1888 · Greek · 708 pages

Marcellin Berthelot compiles the primary Greek texts that defined the alchemical tradition for centuries. These writings treat chemical transformation not as a distant science, but as a visceral, spiritual labor. The authors argue that metal is alive and capable of death, digestion, and resurrection

73% translated

Collection of Ancient Greek Alchemists, Part 2

Marcellin Berthelot & Charles-Émile Ruelle · 1888 · French · 199 pages

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

68% translated

Collection of Ancient Greek Alchemists, Part 3

Marcellin Berthelot & Charles-Émile Ruelle · 1888 · French · 289 pages

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

61% translated

This library is built in the open.

If you spot an error, have a suggestion, or just want to say hello — we’d love to hear from you.