Sylvia Rose
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...
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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 193 min read
Pseudo-Geber: Medieval Alchemy
Pseudo-Geber is a mysterious figure or collective identity linked to a corpus of alchemy texts from the late Middle Ages. The writings...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 254 min read
Mad Hatter's Disease: Mercury Madness
Mad Hatter Disease is also called erethism, erethismus mercurialis or mad hatter syndrome. Caused by progressive mercury poisoning it's a...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 246 min read
Alchemy of Islam: Medieval Golden Age
Islamic alchemy gives a glimpse of a world where science and mysticism intertwine and the pursuit of knowledge transcends boundaries. In...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 234 min read
Alchemy Tria Prima of Paracelsus: Three Primes
The Three Primes or tria prima of alchemy come from renegade Renaissance physician Paracelsus. The tria prima are salt , sulfur and...
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Sylvia Rose
Jun 195 min read
Golden Ages of Alchemy: Renaissance
Alchemy goes through cycles of prevalence for hundreds of years. In the Renaissance, a time of exploration and discovery, alchemy enjoys...
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Sylvia Rose
May 166 min read
Vistula Lagoon Baltic Nature & History
The Vistula Lagoon (Zalew Wiślany) is a brackish water lagoon on the Baltic Sea 90 km (56 mi) long, 10 to 19 km (6 to 15 mi) wide, and up...
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Sylvia Rose
May 55 min read
Casting the Bones - Astragalomancy
Astragalomancy is divination using astragali or ankle bones (talus) of animals as dice. Bones of sheep and goats are popular in the near...
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Sylvia Rose
Apr 264 min read
Screaming Swiss Spirit: Pfaffenkellnerin
Pfaffenkellnerin means "parson's waitress". She's the housekeeper of a parish priest before the Protestant Reformation. Screaming and...
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Sylvia Rose
Mar 96 min read
Jimson Weed, Witches & Zombies
Jimson (Datura stramonium) is among the herbs and plants of magic and healing. It's known as a flying ointment for witches, a folk...
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Sylvia Rose
Feb 295 min read
Kermes Insect & Ancient Red Pigments
The kermes insect is a primary source of vermilion and crimson from Neolithic times to the Middle Ages. The first red colors of the...
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Sylvia Rose
Feb 246 min read
Prussian Blue - Delight of Artists & Poisoners
Prussian blue is a vibrant hue first created in 1706 by Swiss German paint manufacturer Johann Diesbach (1670 - 1748) in Berlin. A vivid...
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 12, 20233 min read
German Harvest Spirits - Dragons
This post is archived. Go HERE for the updated post. Enjoy. The mystic Dragon is among the plentiful Harvest Spirits in Germany....
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Sylvia Rose
Aug 6, 20235 min read
Easter Bunny, Prussian Blue & Penguins
German folklore, scientists and entrepreneurs are responsible for innovative inventions, discoveries and beloved traditions such as the...
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Sylvia Rose
Jul 17, 20232 min read
German Traditions - Candy Canes
German traditions abound at Yuletide season. Sweets and candy are a big part of Christmas in Germany. Candy canes date back to the 17th...
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Sylvia Rose
May 13, 20233 min read
Romanesque - Magic of Light & Stone
Europe is famous for Romanesque architecture. Grand, elaborate stonework with stunning use of windows, vaults and arches appears in...
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