Alchemy: meaning, branches and origin

Alchemy is defined as set of theories and experimental studies on chemical phenomena developed since ancient times and throughout the Middle Ages. Aimed at discovering the constituent elements of the universe, the transmutation of metals, the elixir of life, etc.

alchemy is one mix between science, spiritualism, art, among other doctrines that, to this day, continues to attract many people. Here we are going to tell you more about the meaning of Alchemy, its origin, among other curiosities.

What is Alchemy?

Alchemy is the experience of chemical phenomena before the scientific method, with the aim of knowing the transformation of matter, along with motivations that are considered esoteric or religious.

The word alchemy is derived from the Greek word -khyma, which means mixture or fusion of liquids, with the Arabic prefix to the-. The most common theory about the etymology of the word is this.

Origin of alchemy

The technology of the ancient Egyptians was combined with the philosophy of the ancient Greeks in Alexandria, where alchemy is said to have reached its highest point. Alchemy was a precursor to the knowledge of physical, chemical and astronomical systems, and reached its peak in Alexandria. All the knowledge acquired up to that time had spiritual purposes, such as the alchemy of metals. In 1543, the heliocentric theory of Nicolaus Copernicus placed the Earth outside the center of the Universe.

Alchemist Robert Boyle introduced the scientific method in 1661, in his work The Skeptical Chemist. It was then that alchemy began to be replaced by the scientific method, and not the other way around. When all scientific research uses the scientific method, astrology disappears and chemical science remains. Similarly, astronomy is born from astrology.

The word alchemy is used today to refer to an actual experience that may have included small bits of magic, such as the alchemy of love. Alchemy is the experience of chemical phenomena before the scientific method, with the aim of knowing the transformation of matter, along with motivations that are considered esoteric or religious.

What are the types of alchemy?

There are three types of alchemical people: the mystical or esoteric alchemists, the swindlers and the artisan or exoteric alchemists. Next we will tell you a little about each one.

artisan alchemy

The beginning of alchemy can be traced almost to the Stone age. From the study of ceramic samples from archaeological sites, it has been concluded that there was a characteristic development, where there is an early appearance of simple ceramic utensils, and later in other strata of the site they were found. colored samples that suggest the use and application of certain minerals.

In conclusion, it is thought that Neolithic potters learned to empirically identify those minerals that helped them color objects with different intentions. From here, there is the hypothesis of why the malachite, which gives green color, and the azurite, the color blue. They are the first copper ores that mark the beginning of metallurgy.

esoteric or mystical alchemy

Explanations in support of such alchemy come from ancient Egypt. It is often said that in the ancient city of Mendes, the man who called himself Bowling Democritus, also known as False Democritus, around the year 2000. C. wrote Physyka kay mystika (physical and mystical things) in which he deals with the manufacture of gold, silver, precious stones and other substances of interest. The investigations that have been made about this book confirm that the listed recipes are typical of Egyptian, Persian, Babylonian and Syrian artisans. Likewise, Boros Democritus deviated from the practice of artisan alchemy in a notable way, introducing astrology and mystical interpretations, focusing on the transformation of the material. With what has been done, a point of view based on the Greek doctrine of the four elements is adopted.

In the search for the origins of esoteric alchemy, it is necessary to travel back in time to Zosimus of Panopolis (nowadays Ahmin, Egypt), who is considered an exponent of Gnostic teachings, when in the year 300 AD approximately, he wrote the Encyclopedia on the Hermetic Art. The hermetic art It is named after the Greek god Hermes.

Its name comes from "trimegistus", thrice great, in magic, art, and philosophy, originally known as chemia. Later, when Muslims interested in this art occupied Alexandria, they added the prefix -To the to name it, so this would become Alchemy, or Alchemy in Western languages. As a reference of esoteric alchemy there are figures such as, for example, Mary the Jewess, Agathodemon, and Cleopatra.

Scammers

They were characters who claimed to be alchemists and holders of the philosopher's stone often worked together. Some emperors and princes have been known to turn lead into gold to increase their treasures. Thieves knew how to dye metals to look like gold or silver.

Throughout the sixteenth century, many alchemists worked to perform the transmutation. The first of these could have been dark, and the last one, maybe Cagliostro, which he named himself. There was a great increase in the XNUMXth century of these swindlers. Among these scammers was Marco Bragadino, whose original name was Marcus Antonius Magus Veranus Bragadino.

The step towards science

As a conclusion, we can say that Alchemy had several transformations throughout history, and was the forerunner of what is now Science, as we know it.

Between the fifteenth and sixteenth century, there was a persecution of alchemists and swindlers. In fact, they were sentenced to death. This coincides with the historical moment in which Paracelsus is at his peak, supported by rationalist and empirical ecclesiastical ideas. Paracelsus was in the exoteric Alchemy movement, so he created the discipline he called latrochemistry, the application of chemical substances for medical purposes. This was the first advance towards today's science.

I hope this information has been useful to you in learning more about alchemy.