Who said that? Pseudos are writers whose work is falsely attributed to a major figure. The real writer can be one or more. Many share enduring insights. In alchemy, where secrecy is normal, Pseudos range from Greek philosophers, alchemists of Islam and Renaissance scribes.
The phenomenon of pseudepigraphy has been a subject of scholarly debate and intrigue throughout history. Many pseudo-writings contain gems of truth still used today although the normalcy of this pursuit makes identification difficult.
The attribution of works to esteemed figures like Aristotle contributes to human understanding of ancient philosophy and medicine, especially treatment of headaches caused by questions about the authenticity and authority of texts in a broader intellectual tradition.
There are a number of reasons a writer might write under an assumed name, especially with a group of writers sharing the name. They give the writer anonymity for reasons including:
reputation - writer(s) might be highly regarded in another field; they might be from a prominent family who disapproves of the alchemical practice
status & renown - having one's works accepted as those of an esteemed figure
financial - there's often a bottom line
fear of reprisal - no one expects the Spanish Inquisition, but there it is. This and the Roman Inquisition are part of the larger Catholic Inquisition. Several prominent alchemists are called before the board.
gender - women have the freedom to write, explore and express without revealing themselves. Many medieval Europeans believe women aren't intelligent enough to write or understand scientific texts, even after the work of Isabella Cortese hits the shelves.
writers' insecurity and fear of making mistakes for which they'll be blamed, a common phobia of writers, gives anonymity a sweet allure.
Here are just a few historical Pseudos.
This ancient Pseudo is omnipresent in the time of antiquity. Pseudo-Democritus is one or more unidentified authors of Greek texts falsely attributed to the ancient philosopher Democritus (c. 460–370 BCE).
Among these writings are the lost works On Sympathies and Antipathies and Artificial Substances (Greek: Cheirokmēta). These are believed to be by the Pythagorean physician and pharmacologist Bolos of Mendes (c. 200 - 100 BCE) .
Surviving Greek alchemical texts previously attributed to Democritus are now believed to be the work of an anonymous writer active around c. 54 - 68 AD. These texts, among the earliest alchemical writings, are crucial in shaping the course and concepts of alchemy.
The four books on dyeing metals to gold and silver, dyeing stones and dyeing wool purple are esteemed by Greco-Egyptian alchemists, who contribute commentaries. Before the printing press, writing of commentaries, disputes or explanatory texts help keep ideas in circulation.
Alchemical works ascribed to pseudo-Democritus popularize the alchemical saying attributed to the (fabled) Ostanes and others:
" ... Nature delights in nature, nature conquers nature, nature masters nature."
Pseudo-Dorotheos of Monemvasia
Pseudo-Dorotheos of Monemvasia is a mysterious figure behind the creation or compilation of a significant Greek-language work, the Historical Book (Βιβλίον Ιστορικόν). First published in Venice in 1631 the work is a historical account from creation to the early 17th century.
Authorship is attributed to Dorotheos, a fictional figure of Monemvasia. Despite the dubious authorship, the Historical Book gains widespread popularity as a valuable resource for historical information, especially during the Ottoman period in Greece.
Its detailed narrative sheds light on various historical events, cultural developments, and societal changes shaping the region over centuries. As a historical record the text brings to life the intellectual and cultural milieu of the time.
Pseudo-Dorotheus (not of Monemvasia)
In the late 3rd century, a cluster of works emerge bearing the name Dorotheus of Tyre, but in a pseudepigraphical manner. These texts, shrouded in mystery and intrigue, interpret the lives of Apostles and their disciples, offering a glimpse into the early days of Christianity.
Among the narratives contained within these works is the account of Barnabas, a key figure in the spread of the Christian faith. It relates that certain Jews coming to Syria and Salamis, where Barnabas is preaching the gospel, are exasperated at his extraordinary success.
They attack as he's disputing in the synagogue, drag him out, and, after the most inhumane tortures, stone him to death. Although it's believed he's martyred by being stoned, the apocryphal Acts of Barnabas states he's bound with a rope by the neck, then dragged to the site where he's burned to death.
Pseudo-Aristotle
Pseudo-Aristotle is a corpus of works were mistakenly credited to Aristotle by later generations. Falsely attributed writings or pseudepigrapha blurs the lines between authentic and wrongly attributed texts within the broader context of the Corpus Aristotelicum.
One of these is The Book of the Apple, a medieval Neoplatonist Arabic work of mysterious authorship. It's first ascribed to Aristotle. The date of composition predates 1000 AD.
Its name comes from a legend of Aristotle, who lectures about immortality as he is dying. He's recurrently revived and energized by smelling an apple. Despite false attribution it's seriously discussed in the Encyclopedia of the Brethren of Purity, and translated from Arabic to Hebrew.
Pseudo-Geber
Pseudo-Geber is the author or group behind alchemical writings falsely attributed to Jabir ibn Hayyan, known as Geber in Europe. The Summa perfectionis magisterii, a key text in this collection, was likely written by Paul of Taranto before 1310.
It influences alchemy in medieval Europe, introducing the corpuscular theory of matter and mentioning nitric acid, aqua regia, and aqua fortis. The historical existence of Jabir ibn Hayyan is uncertain, with many Arabic works attributed to him considered pseudepigrapha.
The earlier Islamic alchemical texts are known as the Corpus Jabirianum, while the later Latin corpus is referred to as pseudo-Geber. Some works are believed to draw from earlier Islamic authors like Abu Bakr al-Razi.
Pseudo-Raymund Lull
Liber de secretis naturae seu de quinta essentia
The Book of the Secrets of Nature or of the Quintessence,1498
The Liber de secretis naturae seu de quinta essentia is the central work in the Pseudo-Lullian Alchemical corpus, a large collection of up to 143 different texts circulating as works of Raymond Lull (1232-1316), philosopher, theologian and Christian mystic.
The author uses large sections of an earlier work by Jean de Roquetaillade (c. 1310 - 1362). Titled De consideratione quintae essentiae omnium rerum (On the consideration of the fifth essence of all things) linking alchemy with medicine. Lull has no known interest in alchemy.
Text describes the process of producing aqua vitae (Latin for "water of life") by the distillation of wine. As per Roquetaillade, the resulting substance can purge corruption and decay, thus prevent illness and premature aging.
The Liber de secretis naturae, in contrast to text of Roquetiallade, is not primarily interested in the medical application of the quintessence. It interprets these ideas as part of an alchemical system including medicine, transmutation of metals and artificial production of precious stones.
Pseudo-Paracelsus
The book "The Archidoxes of Magic" is a pseudo-Paracelsian grimoire of the 16th century involving the creation of magical sigils (seals) as talismans or amulets. The tenth volume of the Sigill Lunae shows a 9x9 magic square with sum of 369, to be inscribed on a silver talisman.
37 78 29 70 21 62 13 54 5
6 38 79 30 71 22 63 14 46
47 7 39 80 31 72 23 55 15
16 48 8 40 81 32 64 24 56
57 17 49 9 41 73 33 65 25
26 58 18 50 1 42 74 34 66
67 27 59 10 51 2 43 75 35
36 68 19 60 11 52 3 44 76
77 28 69 20 61 12 53 4 45
In mathematics a square array of numbers, usually positive integers, is a magic square if the sums of the numbers in each row, each column, and both main diagonals are the same.
These texts are primarily responsible for Paracelsus' reputation as a magician.
In the late 16th century a surge in Pseudo-Paracelsian writings complicates biographers' efforts to differentiate between authentic tradition and legend. Despite works of astrology (an art all physicians are required to know), Paracelsus is not connected to talismanic magic.
The Liber de secretis is considered spurious, even though certain parts, like the first four books, seem to have roots in Paracelsus' writings. The writer may be contemporary with him. Paracelsus' own Neun Bücher Archidoxis (Nine Books of Archidoxis) is a work on medicine written c. 1526 and first printed 1567.
Pseudo-Arnaldian Corpus (Arnaldus de Villanova)
The Pseudo-Arnald Corpus consists primarily of alchemical works advocating the "mercury alone" concept, which proposes that transforming base metal into gold requires removing all substances except the "primal metal," found in all metals.
This concept is linked to the "mercury-sulfur theory" of metal generation, suggesting an ideal mercury with pure, red sulfur imparting the golden hue to the alchemical product. From the 13th-century Summa perfectionis of Pseudo-Geber, the idea prevails in the 14-15th centuries.
It's justified as mimicking nature, with alchemists supposedly replicating a natural metallic generation process which could take up to a millennium. This is exemplified by lab-grown diamonds today.
The Summa perfectionis also spreads the belief elements and metals are made of tiny particles of varying sizes. Consequently, heating impure metal is thought to purify it as fiery particles enter.
The fiery component(s) expel impurities and leave behind pure metal. This theory of medieval physics is inherited from scholastic medicine, ultimately rooted in Aristotle's Physics and Meteorologica (4th century BCE).
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