Alexandria & the Siege of Diocletian
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Ancient Alexandria, jewel of Egypt, is renowned as a city of philosophy, medicine and alchemy. A crucial turning point happens 297 AD....
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 24
- 6 min
Herbal Remedies in Medieval Alchemy
Herbal remedies are ubiquitous in medieval alchemy, a practice combining elements of science, spirituality, and mysticism. Recipes are...
10 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 23
- 5 min
Knights Templar Crusades & Medieval France
The Knights Templar, or the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, are a religious military order formed in 1099 during the...
16 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 23
- 4 min
Religious Wars Catholics & Protestants France
The 16th and 17th centuries mark a tumultuous period in European history, defined by a series of religious wars with cataclysmic effects...
13 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 23
- 4 min
Bernard Trevisan: Legends of Alchemy
Bernard Trevisan is a prototypical figure in alchemy, constructed by various alchemical writers of the medieval and Renaissance eras in...
17 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 23
- 5 min
Medieval Alchemy: Jean de Roquetaillade
Jean de Roquetaillade (1310 - 1370 AD) or John of Rupescissa is a prominent figure in medieval France. A fiery Franciscan friar,...
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Sylvia Rose
- Aug 22
- 8 min
Medieval France: Peasants, Knights & Urbanites
Medieval France sees many changes in the turmoil of war, plague, mad royals and the birth of the Inquisition. A precisely defined social...
14 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 22
- 5 min
Christine de Pizan: Medieval Writings
Christine de Pizan or Pisan (Cristina da Pizzano) c.1364 - 1430 is an Italian-born French court writer during the reign of King Charles...
17 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 21
- 6 min
Phosphorus, Uroscopy & Power of Pee
Urine has medical and practical applications though history. Renaissance alchemist Hennig Brand discovers phosphorus by boiling his...
14 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 20
- 4 min
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....
21 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 19
- 6 min
Elixir Vitae: Giambattista della Porta
In the European alchemical tradition, the elixir vitae or elixir of life is associated with the philosopher's stone. Legend has it...
26 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 19
- 4 min
Pill of Immortality: Chinese Alchemy
The Pill of Immortality or Immortality Pill is a life-giving substance in Chinese alchemy . Also called xiandan (仙丹), jindan (金丹), or dan...
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Sylvia Rose
- Aug 19
- 6 min
Guelphs & Ghibellines: Blood of the Renaissance
The Guelphs and Ghibellines are feuding factions during the Italian Renaissance. Warfare and bloodshed between the two throw regions of...
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Sylvia Rose
- Aug 18
- 5 min
George Ripley: Alchemist of Augustine
George Ripley (c. 1415 -1490) is an English Augustinian Canon, author and alchemist. One of England's most famous alchemy practitioners,...
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Sylvia Rose
- Aug 18
- 4 min
Guido Bonatti: Medieval Astrology Star
Guido Bonatti (d. 1296 - 1300) is a renowned Italian mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer. Highly respected for his astrological...
18 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 17
- 3 min
Ge Hong: Teachings Alchemy Medicine
Ge Hong (葛洪; Gě Hóng , 283 - 364 AD), or Zhichuan (稚川) is a Chinese linguist, philosopher, physician, alchemist and writer during the...
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Sylvia Rose
- Aug 16
- 4 min
Cosimo de' Medici & the Italian Renaissance
Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici, also known as Cosimo the Elder, is a leading figure in the rise of Florence as the Italian Renaissance...
13 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 14
- 6 min
Isaac Newton: Alchemy & the Occult
Isaac Newton, English physicist and mathematician, has a deep interest in the occult. He writes of chronology, biblical interpretation...
17 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 13
- 4 min
Dioscorides: Natural Medicine of Ancients
Pedanius Dioscorides is a surgeon in the army of Emperor Nero . His knowledge of surgery and other medical skills suggests study in...
16 views
Sylvia Rose
- Aug 13
- 5 min
Vinegar Cures of Physician Dioscorides
Pedanius Dioscorides (c. 40 - 90 AD), a Greek physician. is known as the father of pharmacognosy. Pharmacologist, botanist and prolific...
22 views
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