Sylvia Rose
Planetary Name Symbolism in Ancient Astrology
The practice of naming planets comes from the work of the Babylonians. The concept passes into the Greek, and from there, Romans begin...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 303 min read
Ancient Greek Discovery & Use of Mercury
The ancient Greeks are celebrated for their contributions to various fields such as philosophy, mathematics, and medicine. Among their...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 304 min read
Earthy & Mineral Hematite: Differences
Hematite, an iron oxide mineral, is well-known for its striking metallic luster and deep red to black colorations. Appearing in various...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 304 min read
Hematite: Iron Oxide Red Earth Pigment
"Hematite" comes from the ancient Greek for blood. The stone creates red dust when cut and polished. The red color isn't always visible...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 294 min read
How to Extract Red from Hematite: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hematite, an iron oxide mineral with the chemical formula Fe2O3, is prevalent around the world. Known for metallic luster and red earth...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 293 min read
How to Make Hematite Pigment: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hematite, an iron ore with the chemical formula Fe2O3 (ferric oxide), is known for its metallic luster. In earthy form the stone offers a...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 293 min read
Aqua Regia: The Green Lyon of Alchemy
Aqua regia, Latin for “royal water,” is a powerful acidic solution known to dissolve noble metals like gold and platinum. It's used in...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 297 min read
Question of Alchemy in Ancient Rome
Alchemy, a fusion of science, philosophy and mysticism, emerges in practice from the 1st century AD. Among the power civilizations of...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 263 min read
Tricky Alchemy: Caput Mortuum Purple
Caput mortuum, Latin for as "dead head" is an ominous name for a valued color. As an iron oxide it's easy to make at home. As a purple...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 246 min read
Alchemy: Dyeing Stones to Look Like Gems
Although alchemy is often associated with gold-making, another essential skill of the alchemist is to color or dye stones like quartz...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 245 min read
4 Infused Wines of Ancient Medicine
Myrtle, Rose, Scammory and Flowers of Brass are four infused wines used medicinally in the ancient world. Infused wine in medicine often...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 214 min read
Tellurium: Bright Gold & Dark Matter
Tellurium is the Latin word for earth. A brittle, non-malleable silvery white metalloid, tellurium (Te) is a rare element having both...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 205 min read
Alchemy: Metallurgy, Myths & Magic
Alchemy has a lifelong relationship with the magic of metals and their multiple manifestations. Metal workers and later blacksmiths...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 204 min read
Magic Metals, Gold, Smiths & Alchemists
In Eastern and Western alchemy, the transformation of metals into gold (Au) symbolizes a process of maturation for metal and alchemist....
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 204 min read
Smelting Metals: Metalwork & Alchemy
In alchemy an essential piece of equipment is the hearth or forge. Smelting metal applies heat and a reducing agent to separate one or...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 186 min read
Renaissance Astrology: Power of Stars & Planets
Astrology prospers in the East after the 476 AD fall of the Roman Empire. Indian, Persian, and Islamic writers prolifically translate...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 165 min read
Lapis Lazuli: Creating Ultramarine
Lapis lazuli or "blue stone" is prized for its depth and brilliance in paint as the color ultramarine. Before the 1800s, ultramarine...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 165 min read
Lapis Lazuli & Gold: Jungian Alchemy Symbolism
Alchemy symbolism is an ancient and fluctuating system of intertwined elements compounded over more than 2000 years. A cornerstone of...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 156 min read
Poison Pigments of Painters: Renaissance
During the Western Renaissance, new exciting artists' pigments appear in brilliant colors, vibrant scarlet red, deep rich blue,...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 145 min read
Alchemy: How to Make Emerald from Quartz
Alchemy has origins in ancient medicine, metallurgy and gemology. As metallurgy evolves to coloring metals the goal is to make base...
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