I saw two seated leaning on each other, as pan is leaned against pan to warm, spotted fromhead to foot with scabs; and never did I see currycomb plied by a boy for whom his lord iswaiting nor by one who keeps awake unwillingly; as each often plied the bite of his nails uponhimself, because of the great rage of his itching which has no other relief. And the nails dragged down the scab, even as a knife the scales of bream or other fish that may have themlarger.

I began, …”So may memory of you not steal away in the first world from human minds, but may live under many suns, tell me who ye are, and of what race; let not your disfiguring andloathsome punishment fright you from disclosing yourselves unto me.”

“I was from Arezzo,” replied one of them, “and Albero of Siena had me put in the fire; but thatfor which I died brings me not here. True it is that I said to him, speaking in jest, I knew howto raise myself through the air in flight, and he, who had vain desire and little wit, wished thatI should show him the art, and only because I did not make him Daedalus, made me be burned by one that held him as a son; but to the last pit of the ten, for the alchemy thatI practiced in the world, Minos, to whom it is not allowed to err, condemned me.”

Eighth Circle of HellThe Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri

Alchemical Heritage

Greek Alchemical Manuscript - 3rd Century AD

Earth, Air, Fire, Water

Alchemy represents an amalgamation of certain chemical technologies and philosophical speculations. This amalgamation took place in Egypt where theGreek philosophers could see the activities of metalworkers; these artisans could enhance the appearance of ornaments fashioned from less precious metalsand stones. Although these workmen doubtless realized that they were fabricating imitation jewelry when they alloyed and gilded, the philosophersconvinced themselves that genuine silver and gold were being produced. ThePlatonic idea and the stress on perfection, coupled with the Aristotelian notionsregarding alteration of elemental materials by adjustment of forms and qualities,were attractive concepts which made the transmutation of base metals into goldappear not unreasonable.

The Development of Modern Chemistryby Aaron J. Ihde

The AlchemistHnedrick Heerschop

Sulphur and Mercury, Sun and MoonElementa ChemiaeJ.C. Barchusen

Coin of Alchemical Gold

Robert Boyle

The Alchymist Discovering PhosphorusJoseph Wright

Portrait of Monsieur Lavoisier and his WifeJacques-Louis David

Technological Heritage

Smelting of Bismuth Ore

Leaching of Saltpetre fromSheep Dung

Assaying Gold

Medical Heritage

Die Alchemie des GeberE. Darmstaedter

Questions Chemists Seek To Answer?