Yeast is a vital microorganism in wine making. From ancient fermentation to modern advancements, yeast influences taste, texture and...

Pickling and fermenting are processes for preserving vegetables like green beans. Both enhance flavor and extend shelf life, but methods,...

Whey is a byproduct of cheese making. It comes with nutritional benefits and flavorful culinary options. Explore the production process...

Pan is the wild rustic god of shepherds, flocks and music. Originating in Arcadia, Greece, Pan embodies the essence of wilderness. He...

Bona Dea, the "Good Goddess," has a special place among ancient Roman deities. Her mysteries are only for women. Goddess of fertility,...

Silvanus is a rustic Roman god of wilderness, fields, livestock, boundaries, music and fertility. His name comes from the Latin silva ...

Sodium silicate or "water glass" or liquid glass, originates in ancient practices. A chemical compound, sodium silicate is composed of...

Artists of Renaissance Europe cultivate palettes rich in colors sourced from elements both enchanting and lethal. The Renaissance is...

From vibrant reds extracted from roots to the deep blues synthesized from leaves, plants have abundant natural dyes and also health...

Cleopatra the alchemist is active in Alexandria, Egypt c. 300 AD. She may be contemporary to Zosimos , who mentions her in his writings....

Precious stones are made by economic supply and demand. First, however, they're formed by fire and pressure for millions of years. Prized...

Who said that? Pseudos are writers whose work is falsely attributed to a major figure. The real writer can be one or more. Many share...

Zinc (Zn) is an essential metal of life and one of the four components in the Tetrasomia of Maria in alchemy. The 30th element on the...

The Alexandrian alchemists, as philosophers of nature steeped in Greco-Egyptian thinking, define the properties of metals as living...

Testing metals is a precise and varied process in the ancient world. It's a crucial skill in ensuring fair trade and preventing fraud....

Smelting, the art of extracting metal from its ore through heating and extraction, has been a part of human civilization since c. 6000...

Dyers, coloring professionals, metal workers and gemologists seek vibrant colors and tones since early civilization. The first use of...

The practice of naming planets comes from the work of the Babylonians. The concept passes into the Greek, and from there, Romans begin...

Astrology and astronomy blur boundaries in the ancient world. Similar at a glance, the two serve different needs in society and progress....

Hematite, an iron oxide mineral with the chemical formula Fe2O3, is prevalent around the world. Known for metallic luster and red earth...