Zosimos of Panopolis (c. 300 AD) is a pivotal figure in the history of alchemy. Born in Panopolis, ancient Egypt, Zosimos lives in the vibrant intellectual center Alexandria. Through his eyes historians see the Golden Age of alchemy in Greco-Roman Egypt.
While Mary the Jewess is considered the first true alchemist, acclaimed by Zosimos, he himself is often regarded as the father of alchemy. A Greco-Egyptian Gnostic philosopher, alchemist and teacher, his work is significant in later medieval alchemy compilations.
His philosophies and observations create a unique vision. At the time of Zosimos, alchemy is undergoing transformation. Arising from Egyptian traditions and Hellenistic philosophy, alchemy is both a mystic quest and influential scientific movement.
The blend of metaphysics and experimental chemistry in Zosimos' writings conveys the transitional nature of alchemical thought as it moves from ancient mystical practices to a more empirical framework. Zosimos defines alchemy as the study of
"... the composition of waters, movement, growth, embodying and disembodying, drawing the spirits from bodies and bonding the spirits within bodies."
Zosimos' contributions to alchemy primarily come from the writings surviving through centuries of translation and transmission. In the 1990s a large portion of his work, translated to Arabic, is found at an archaeological dig.
Texts such as On the Dangerous Nature of the Substance reveal intimate understanding of the chemical processes. There are fundamentally two kinds of alchemists: practical and philosophical. The practical do experiments and the philosophical discuss them.
These are two sides of a spectrum. Many practitioners incorporate both aspects. Zosimos emphasizes the need for careful observation and the importance of reagents in alchemical operations. A reagent is a substance used in chemical analysis or reactions.
Zosimos writes,
"Knowledge is treated with great honor, because only a philosopher, who has acquired Wisdom, scientifically and practically, is able to use it. An experimentalist may obey his master when he tells him: Take this and do such and such a thing, evaporate it, dissolve it, distill it, and so on till the end of the work.
That aide does not understand anything beyond how to do things; whereas the person who comprehends the science and the practice, knows how and why something is evaporated, i.e. the purpose of the evaporation. This is why, to become a philosopher, one must know the aim of Wisdom in each step of the work."
Among his more intriguing ideas is the concept of the “Philosopher’s Stone.” Modern thinking, influenced over two thousand years by shallow depictions and portrayals, can have trouble understanding the lapis philosophorum.
In Zosimos' writings the mention of a mystical stone appears as discussions between Aristotle and his teacher Plato. Greek philosopher Democritus is quoted as saying,
"The stone is not formed until it has gathered all the colors that exist in the universe, and until it has been colored with all the simple and complex colors."
As for Zosimos, he is credited with the riddle of a
“... stone which isn't a stone, this precious thing which has no value, this polymorphous thing, which has no form, this unknown thing which is known to all.”
The Alexandrian and later alchemists are fond of word games, symbols, codes, puns, anagrams and metaphors. For example lead sulfide is called the "Tree that Grows in the Black Soil of India" due to its color and the heat used in its preparation from sulfur.
Alchemists often keep experiments hidden due to the volatile political atmosphere of Alexandria, and the possibility of thievery of methods by a competing party. At the same time need for communication is essential, giving rise to the arcane language of early alchemists.
Zosimos lists the alchemical symbols of his time (ancient Greek):
Alchemy as a Spiritual Practice
Zosimos's approach to alchemy results in works rich with references to the divine, the cosmos, and the interplay between the physical and spiritual realms. He explores these ideals in the practice of Gnosticism and the Hermetic principles.
The alchemical process is often seen as a sacred journey, a pathway leading to enlightenment and unity with the divine. Zosimos emphasizes the mystic and philosophical elements of alchemy along with the prevailing image of alchemist as craftsperson.
On metals, Zosimos writes,
"He who sows silver reaps silver, and he who sows gold reaps gold."
Zosimos experiments with metals. To prepare gold (alloys) out of silver, he says, one must start with gold, and to make silver out of copper one needs silver. This refers to one of the early skills of alchemists, the creation and multiplication of metal alloys and metals.
His famous allegories involving divine figures and mythical imagery propose that the ultimate goal of alchemy is attainment of spiritual enlightenment and understanding of the cosmos. Zosimos explains how humans learn the secrets of nature:
"The ancient and divine writings say that the angels became enamored of women; and, descending, taught them all the works of nature. From them, therefore, is the first tradition, chema, concerning these arts; for they called this book chema and hence the science of chemistry takes its name."
Zosimos in the Alchemical Tradition
Zosimos’s influence permeates through the centuries. Works of Renaissance alchemists like Paracelsus, who sees alchemy as a blend of science and theology, take inspiration from the writings of Zosimos.
His impact on the development of early chemistry is undeniable. Many of his techniques and observations put down the foundation for later scientific endeavors. Zosimos embodies the confluence of science, philosophy, and spirituality.
Non-Fiction Books:
Fiction Books:
READ: Lora Ley Adventures - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series
READ: Reiker For Hire - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries
Comments