Sylvia Rose
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...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 154 min read
Gnosticism: Five Essential Gnostic Principles
Gnosticism and Gnostic principles emerge in the first century AD, though they're believed to have deeper roots. Many different shades of...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 154 min read
Gnosticism: Gnostic Ways of Thought
Gnosticism emerges in the 1st century AD as a philosophical and religious movement seeking a unique perspective on spiritual...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 107 min read
How to Make Asem: Essential Alchemy
Asem is a stock metal mix in alchemy , usually prepared in quantity ahead of time and added to alchemical recipes as needed. Asem is...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 75 min read
Ptolemy: Earth, Almagest & Ancient Astronomy
Claudius Ptolemy ( c. 100 - 170 AD) is a Greco-Egyptian mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer and music theorist in...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 54 min read
Rudolf II Renaissance Prague: Alchemy, Eros & Occult
The Kunstkammer or Art Chamber of Rudolf II is a delight. A patron of arts, science, literature and occult the Holy Roman Emperor...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 38 min read
Alchemists of Ancient Alexandria
Alchemy is a popular pursuit in the vibrant atmosphere of ancient Alexandria , Egypt. Alchemists seek healing potions and processes...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 28 min read
Alexandria: Jewel of Ancient History
Alexandria is on the Mediterranean coast at the Egyptian settlement Rhacotis, later the Egyptian quarter of the city. Due to its vast...
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Sylvia Rose
Jul 293 min read
Writing Inside Eggs Italian Renaissance
Writing inside eggs is invented by Naples polymath Giambattista della Porta. In the 16th century he uses this method to smuggle messages...
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Sylvia Rose
Jul 253 min read
Medici & Alchemy: Italian Renaissance
The powerful Medici family of Italy, like many ruling courts, patronize and practice alchemy. In the Renaissance alchemy is a topic of...
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Sylvia Rose
Jul 224 min read
Agathodaemon: Fire, Silver & Alchemy
Agathodaemon (Agathodiamon) is an alchemist of ancient Alexandria. A snake god protector of the sparkling port city bears the same name....
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Sylvia Rose
Jul 213 min read
Stephanus of Alexandria: the Last Intellectual
Stephanus of Alexandria (c. 580 - 640 AD) is a Christian philosopher bringing Alexandrian thought to Byzantine society. Despite moving to...
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Sylvia Rose
Jul 214 min read
Olympiodorus Younger: the Last Neoplatonist
Olympiodorus the Younger, a prominent figure in late antiquity, is known as the last of the Neoplatonist pagans in Alexandria, Egypt. On...
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Sylvia Rose
Jul 205 min read
The Great Library of Alexandria
The Great Library of Alexandria on the balmy shores of the Mediterranean and the Nile delta is a center of intellectual activity by c....
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Sylvia Rose
Jul 175 min read
Alchemy & New Thought in Ancient Alexandria
Alexandria is a sparkling jewel on the Mediterranean Sea. Here, in the early centuries AD, alchemy ascends to a Golden Age. Influences...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 66 min read
Slaves Unchained: Freedmen of Ancient Rome
Freedmen in ancient Rome (liberti or libertini) belong to a social class of former slaves given freedom and rights. Roman slaves are used...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 67 min read
Messalina: Death & Desire in Ancient Rome
Valeria Messalina, known as Messalina, is a provocative figure in Roman history. She's notorious for her strong sexual appetites and...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 25 min read
Yumuktepe: Neolithic on the Med
Yumuktepe (Yümüktepe Höyük) is a Neolithic mound site active from c. 6300 BCE to Byzantine times. On the turquoise Turkish Mediterranean,...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 138 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
Dec 31, 20234 min read
Ishum: Night Watchman & Fire God
The God Ishum is the sukkal or divine attendant of Nergal, Lord of the Underworld, death and disease. Like many deified sukkals, Ishum...
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