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Sylvia Rose
May 17, 20244 min read
Baltic Aetsi & the Roman Amber Texts
The Aetsi are a north Germanic-Baltic group described by Roman Tacitus in 98 CE. With strong connections to the trade of coveted amber,...
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Sylvia Rose
May 9, 20245 min read
Electrum: Metal of Money & Myth
Electrum is a natural alloy of silver and gold . In the ancient world, electrum is a metal of superior value due to its hardness and...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 15, 20247 min read
Verdigris: Coveted Blue Green Copper Pigment
Verdigris is the green rust or patina on copper, created as the metal reacts with oxygen in the environment. Copper corrodes green to...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 13, 20248 min read
Çayönü Tepesi: Blood of the Earth
Çayönü Tepesi (Cayonu) is a Neolithic settlement in SE Turkey. From c. 8630-6800 BCE it's a site of innovation, agriculture and human...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 3, 20245 min read
Limonite: Ancient Earth Pigments
Limonite is an iron earth mineraloid among the first colors of the Stone Age palette. Grinding limonite produces yellow ochre. Other...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 15, 20233 min read
Carnelian - Sunny Gems of the Ancient World
Carnelian (early: cornelean ) is already used in the Stone Age to make beads. Pebbles of the reddish orange gemstone might be polished by...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 13, 20235 min read
Jade - Jadeite, Nephrite & Jade Roads
Nephrite jade is the foremost commodity to travel along the Pacific Coasts of the East. The seaway route is the original Jade Road named...
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Sylvia Rose
Dec 12, 20233 min read
Hattusa Green Stone - Mystic Secrets
Myth and mystery surround the natural green cube of nephrite found at Hattusa. A Bronze Age capital of the Hatti and Hittite Empires,...
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Sylvia Rose
Nov 7, 20235 min read
Spiritual Alchemy: Key Elements to Growth
Spiritual alchemy uses the principles of alchemy to achieve harmony and fulfillment in life. Alchemy incorporates shapes, symbols,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 27, 20234 min read
Spiritual Alchemy: Touching the Divine
Spiritual alchemy uses the power of nature, psychology and metaphysical processes of alchemy to transcend the limitations of the mortal...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 26, 20234 min read
Amber Trade - Bronze Age on the Baltic
During the late Bronze Age 2000 - 1200 BCE and after, the Amber Roads form passage for trade, merchants, craftspeople, criminals,...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 26, 20233 min read
Phosphorus: Element of Fatal Fascination
Phosphorus is the first element not known since ancient times. This glowing substance is discovered by German alchemist Hennig Brand in...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 25, 20232 min read
What is the Philosopher's Stone?
The Philosopher's Stone (Latin: lapis philosophorum ) conjures elements of primal lore and eternal powers. In history and legend, the...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 24, 20235 min read
Sulfur (Sulphur): Underworld Treasures of Ancients
Abundant in native form, sulfur (sulphur) is a mysterious and essential component of natural life. All living things contain sulfur. It...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 23, 20235 min read
Baltic Amber - Gold of the North
Baltic amber is among the most prized trade items for millennia. The European amber trade starts in Sicily, with exports to other...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 23, 20234 min read
Weapons & Warfare of Bronze Age Europe 1
The Bronzing of Europe introduces new tools and weapons, harder than copper and less brittle than stone. Bronze is made with about 88%...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 21, 20235 min read
Arsenic: Murderous Metal & Miracle Cure
Arsenic (As) has been called the King of Poisons and the Poison of Kings. This silvery metalloid appears abundantly in the Earth and...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 21, 20233 min read
Mythic Fire Gods: Hephaestus of the Greek
Hephaestus is a Greek god of fire, volcanoes, metal work, blacksmiths, metallurgy, forges, sculpting, carpenters and artisans. A smith's...
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 18, 202310 min read
Alchemy: Science, Philosophy, Magic
Alchemy rises from inquiring minds . Golden Ages of alchemy appear in Greco-Roman Alexandria , medieval Islam and the Renaissance ....
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Sylvia Rose
Oct 16, 20235 min read
Mercury: Miracle Metal of Madness
Mercury is the only metal to be liquid at room temperature, giving it magic and mystical properties, and the name quicksilver. This...
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