Alchemy

The learning by aid of which the chemical philosophers of medieval cartridge clip attempted to transmute the baser metals into gold or money. at that place is spacious divergence of opinion as to the etymology of the ledger, but it would seem to be derived from the Arabic al=the, and kimya=chemistry, which in turn derives from the late definitive chemica=chemistry, from chumeia=a mingling, or cheein, to pour out or mix, Aryan obeisance turn ghu, to pour, whence the word gush. Mr. A. Wallis Budge in his Egyptian delusion, however, states that it is possible that it may be derived from the Egyptian word khemeia, that is to plead the preparation of the black-market ore, or powder, which was regarded as the spry principle in the transmutation of metals. To this name the Arabs affixed the clause al, then giving al-khemeia, or alchemy. HISTORY OF ALCHEMY: From an beforehand(predicate) period the Egyptians feature the reputation of being skillful workers in metals and, according to Grecian writers, they were conversant with their transmutation, employing quicksilver in the address of separating gold and silver from the native matrix. The resulting oxide was supposed to possess tremendous powers, and it was thought that thither resided within in the individualities of the various metals, that in it their various substances were incorporated.

This black powder was mystically identified with the infernal region form of the beau ideal Osiris, and consequently was credited with wizard(prenominal) properties. Thus there grew up in Egypt the belief that magical powers existed in fluxes and alloys. Probably such a belief existed throughout Europe in nexu s with the bronze-working castes of its seve! ral races. Its was probably in the Byzantium of the fourth century, however, that alchemical science received embryonic form. There is little doubt that Egyptian tradition, filtering through Alexandrian Hellenic sources was the foundation upon... If you want to beat a full essay, put it on our website: OrderEssay.net

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