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Carbon fixation optimizes the health of the environment. By transforming carbon dioxide into organic compounds, this process forms the foundation of food chains and supports life on Earth. Glucose in Nature: Ecology & Environment Structures of Starch: Amylose & Amylopectin Nitrogen Fixation & Evolution of Plant Life About Carbon Fixation Carbon fixation converts inorganic carbon, mainly carbon dioxide, into organic compounds. This is done by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, primarily by plants, algae and bacteria. In photosynthesis, chlorophyll captures sunlight and powers the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The glucose produced becomes an energy source for the plant. Elemental Carbon (C) Science & Secrets Soot & Lampblack: Beauty, Art and Medicine Humbaba: Giant Mountain Forest Man A mature oak tree absorbs about 22 kg or 48 lb of carbon dioxide per year. An acre of old forest absorbs the same amount of CO2 as produced by a car driven for 41,843 km or 26,000 mi. Soil microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, facilitate biological carbon fixation. They sequester carbon from decomposed organic material and return it to the soil. Carbon Fixation & Climate Regulation Carbon fixation affects the Earth’s climate. The carbon cycle enables exchange of carbon between environment and living organisms. Carbon fixation helps reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. Five Types of Resistant Starch: Fiber & Health Flavors of Coffee: From Harvest to Homestead Cellulose: Plant Fibers of Structure & Strength Significance of Carbon Fixation in Agriculture In agriculture, carbon fixation is needed for food production. Farmers can improve soil health through carbon sequestration enhancement. For instance, cover cropping and reduced tillage are two effective strategies. They enhance soil quality but and increase the capacity of plants to store carbon. Cover crops fix carbon into soils while providing habitats for beneficial insects and organisms. Cover crops are meant to "cover" and nourish the soil. The many varieties include rye, mustard, alfalfa, clover, buckwheat, radish and vetch. Cherish the Chocolate: Sweet Fermentation Black Pigments of Ancient Artisans Ereshkigal & the Mesopotamian Underworld alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ) also grown as a forage crop Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Carbon is the ubiquitous element. Art, beauty, science and health pivot around the life force of carbon. Here's the nature of carbon, its immense importance to life; carbon black, and why burnt toast should not be eaten. Black Pigments of Ancient Artisans Sacred Geometry: Insight to the Mysteries Soot & Lampblack: Beauty, Art and Medicine About Carbon Carbon (C), with the atomic number 6, is the basis of organic chemistry and a requisite for life on Earth. It exists in various forms, from graphite to diamonds to the bodies of plants, animals, and single-celled microbes. A non-metallic, chemical element, carbon is the fourth most abundant in the universe by mass after hydrogen, helium, and oxygen. Known for a remarkable ability to bond, it forms compounds vital for life. Carbon can exist in allotropes including diamond, graphite (archaic: black lead), and fullerenes. A fullerene is a large spherical molecule made of a hollow cage of atoms. Each form has unique physical properties and uses. Metal to Rust: Unseen Organisms in Action Carbon Steel: Origins, Composition & Uses Flowers of Sulfur (Brimstone): Creation & Uses Carbon powder like lampblack is historically used as ink or paint pigment Importance of Carbon in Life Life as we know it hinges on the essence of carbon. It's the backbone of essential molecules like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids. The interplay of carbon atoms forms the foundation of all life forms, defining their structure, function and existence. The unique tetravalency of carbon, meaning it can form four covalent bonds with other atoms, presents a diversity of chemical structures. This ability makes carbon-based life forms so varied and adaptable to different environments. Carbon is a large part of the body. About 18.5% of an adult human's weight is carbon, primarily in the form of organic compounds in cells. This makes carbon a key component in the molecules of tissues, DNA and metabolic pathways, important to human functions. Structures of Starch: Amylose & Amylopectin Fermentation & Rot: Comparing Processes Molybdochalkos: Nigredo Black Lead of Maria All Life Forms Are Carbon-Based Carbon forms the core framework of all organic compounds, constituting the fundamental basis of life. Currently, all known life forms on Earth are carbon-based, relying on carbon's chemistry to form the molecules essential for life. While silicon has often been proposed as an alternative foundation for life, it lacks the vast range of versatile bonding configurations shown by carbon. Carbon's ability to create stable, complex molecules fosters the diversity of life forms today. Where to Find Carbon Carbon is omnipresent in the surroundings, in air and food. It resides in plants, animals, soil, oceans and the atmosphere, circulating in perpetual cycles. Carbon is everywhere on Earth, in various forms across different environments. Black Pigments of Ancient Artisans How to Make Copperas Red: Simply Science Aqua Regia: The Green Lyon of Alchemy Carbon Steel It exists in the atmosphere primarily as carbon dioxide (CO2) and exists in natural deposits as fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Carbon compounds abound in living organisms, soil and the ocean, where dissolved carbon influences the chemistry of aquatic ecosystems. It's found in soot, hardware nails as carbon steel, and burnt toast. The "char" on foods is carbon. Charred food also contains possible carcinogens which form when the food burns. Hair Loss: 9 Natural Cures of Physician Dioscorides Allegory of the Cave: Vision and Truth Women Scientists of the Ancient World These are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, or compounds with several hexagonal “benzene rings” fused together) such as naphthalene and benzopyrene; and heterocyclic amines (HCAs). The benzene ring is visualized by its founder Friedrich August Kekulé in 1865. He dreams of an ouroboros, an alchemical symbol of a snake or snake-like dragon with its tail in its mouth to form a ring. This cracks to the code to the structure of benzene molecules. However while it makes a good story, the formation of these invisible compounds in burnt food are more than a carbon black coating. Most recent cancer research says it's best to avoid eating the burn. Ouroboros Glyph: Snake Eating its Tail Flowers of Sulfur (Brimstone): Creation & Uses Nitric Acid: Aqua Fortis the Acid Queen Ouroboros with benzene ring Beauty Treatments Containing Carbon Known as a "Hollywood Facial" or a "China Doll" treatment, a carbon laser facial is said to diminish visibility of blemishes, imperfections, fine lines and wrinkles while allegedly enhancing skin firmness and overall appearance. As usual intensive marketing and junk science drive the trend. Side effects include: Skin redness. Swelling. Mild discomfort. Dryness or flaking. Temporary hyperpigmentation. Increased sensitivity to sunlight. Temporary darkening or lightening of the skin. Gingerbread Houses: German Folklore Maillard Reaction: Science & Flavor in Browning Food Song of the Loreley - Lethal Attraction ... but they said it was only temporary! Use of charcoal in wound care dates to 1857. Dermatologic uses of charcoal include dressings to prevent odors from wounds, for reduction of uremic itch, and dressings to manage skin graft wound infections. Soot is historically used mixed with binders such as wax, grease or resins like gum arabic, as body paint and eye liner. It's also the main ingredient in prison tattoos. Isabella Cortese: Renaissance Writer, Alchemist, Entrepreneur Poison Pigments of Painters: Renaissance Sweet Wormwood: Malaria Miracle Cure Using Carbon as Ink or Pigment Carbon is popular in inks and pigments. Carbon black, a substance made of fine carbon particles, is commonly used in printing inks, coatings, and plastics due to its deep black color and excellent UV protection. The artistic mastery of carbon-based pigments dates back to prehistory, with black carbon derived from charcoal or soot being used in cave paintings and for cosmetic purposes. The deep, rich hues derived from carbon-based materials add depth and character to artworks. Artists can use soot as a paint pigment . Soot, a powdery mass of black particles, is impure carbon. With a binder such as gum arabic it makes ink and paint. Soot is a popular medium before electricity in the late 19th century as a product of burning wood, oil, coal or wax. Divine Water: Sulfuric Acid in Alchemy Rot & Decay: Process of Organic Putrefaction Seven Deadly Diseases of the Renaissance What is Carbon Black? The terms carbon black and soot are often used interchangeably. Carbon black is physically and chemically distinct from soot, manufactured and used in various industries from rubber manufacturing to ink production. Its unique properties such as high tinting strength and UV protection make it an invaluable component in various commercial products. Carbon black is used as a reinforcing filler in products such as tires, and as a pigment. Sulfur-Mercury Theory: Alchemical Philosophy Fermentation & Rot: Comparing Processes Salt Trade - the Most Precious Mineral Facts About Carbon Carbon forms the basis of all known life on Earth, making it fundamental to biological chemistry. The world’s largest reservoir of carbon is found in sedimentary rocks, primarily in the form of fossil fuels. Carbon can create more compounds than any other element, exceeding the combined number of compounds formed by all other elements. The discovery of fullerenes—spherical carbon molecules—expands understanding of carbon allotropes and potential applications in nanotechnology. Carbon is capable of forming single, double, and triple bonds, leading to an immense variety of organic compounds and structures. Diamonds, composed of pure carbon, are the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth. They are however brittle, and hitting them with a hammer can shatter them. Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, exhibits exceptional strength and conductivity. Carbon dating, a technique based on the decay of radioactive carbon isotopes, is used to estimate the age of archaeological artifacts and fossils. Fermentation: Yeast & the Active Microworld Five Sugars: Glucose, Maltose, Fructose, Sucrose, Lactose Tycho Brahe: Golden Renaissance Astronomer cricket fossil from Cretaceous Era (145 - 66 million years ago) Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Glucose is a carbohydrate, a simple sugar or monosaccharide. It fuels life and ecology. Made by plants, glucose empowers microorganisms and is the basis of agriculture, nature and the environment. ATP: Nature of Energy & Vital Functions Glucose: Essential Functions in Human Health Carbohydrates: Sugars of Nature & Health Glucose has the chemical formula C6H12O6, indicating six carbon (C) atoms, twelve hydrogen (H) atoms and six oxygen (O) atoms. It's a primary energy source for all living organisms. Made from sunlight, glucose is created during photosynthesis of plants. In this process, green plants and some bacteria convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. Amygdalin: Bitter Almonds & the Cyanogenic Compound Escherichia coli (E. coli): The Good Bacteria Feed the Yeast: Nutrients for Microbe Health This vitalizes plant growth and establishes the foundation of the food chain. In agriculture, an acre of corn can produce approximately 27,000 pounds of glucose through photosynthesis in a growing season. Glucose is also generated through breakdown or reduction of complex carbohydrates like starch and cellulose. This process is part of nutrient cycling and decomposition in the environment. Structures of Starch: Amylose & Amylopectin Nitrogen Fixation & Evolution of Plant Life Calcite: Metal-Eating Bacteria to Coral Reefs mushrooms are high in glucose Glucose has many environmental functions. Energy Source Glucose is a readily available source of energy for almost all living organisms. Through cellular respiration, glucose is reduced to release energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) . ATP fuels processes from growth and reproduction to movement and internal functions. Structure Glucose can be combined into larger, more complex carbohydrates like starch, cellulose and chitin. These polysaccharides provide structural support and energy storage for plants, fungi and animals. Pyruvate (Pyruvic Acid): Key to Life's Energy Glycolysis: Biochemistry of Holistic Health Honey Mead: Most Ancient Ambrosia chitin makes beetle shells Plants convert excess glucose into starch, an energy reserve. It's used especially during low photosynthetic periods. Biosynthesis Glucose is a precursor for synthesizing amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides. It's vital for cell metabolism and growth. Plants use up to 70% of glucose produced in photosynthesis for growth and maintenance. Microbial Activity Soil microorganisms rely on glucose for energy, which promotes nutrient cycling and soil fertility. A gram of healthy soil can contain up to 1 billion microbes, all using glucose to break down organic matter. At unseen levels the earth is continuously moving and breathing. Carbohydrates: Sugars of Nature & Health Ammonium (NH+4): Nitrogen Needs of Plants Tannins: Complex Astringents of Nature Carbon Cycling Glucose is a key component of the carbon cycle. Photosynthesis removes CO2 from the atmosphere, storing it as glucose in plant biomass. Plants continuously interact with the atmosphere by exchanging carbon. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide. Most carbon dioxide is stored in roots, permafrost, grasslands and forests. As plants and soil decompose, they release carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. Ideally it's consumed by other plants and converted to oxygen. Lectins & Phytates: Nature of Plants + Human Health Lignin: Ecology, Wood & Natural Health B. Linens  Bacterium: Big Cheese of B.O. Soil Health Glucose and its derivatives contribute to soil structure and fertility. Microorganisms use glucose as an energy source. They produce nutrients contributing to humus formation, improved water retention and aeration. Practices like crop rotation and cover cropping increase organic matter in soil, promoting microbial activity and glucose production. This can improve soil structure and nutrient availability. Too much is too bad. Excess glucose runoff from agricultural fields contributes to nutrient pollution in waterways, harmful algal blooms and oxygen depletion. Microbes: Bacteria, Actinomycetes, Protozoa, Fungi & Viruses Fermentable & Non-Fermentable Sugars Five Types of Resistant Starch: Fiber & Health Plant Development Plants use glucose not only as a direct energy source but also as a precursor to other essential molecules like amino acids, lipids, and nucleic acids, all vital for growth and development. Glucose levels improve plant defenses against pests and diseases. The concentration of glucose in a plant's sap can indicate its health and nutritional status. Polysaccharides: Starch, Glycogen, Cellulose Ancient Grains: Wheat, Barley, Millet, Rice Chamomile - Herbology & Folklore Sap from maple trees is boiled down to make maple syrup Agriculture Glucose forms in tissues of plants such as fruit, vegetables, and grain. It contributes to the nutritional value and palatability of crops. Nutrient management in fertilizers helps optimize glucose synthesis in plants. Some plants, called "C4 plants" based on methods of carbon fixation, have adapted to use glucose more efficiently. They can prosper at high temperatures, contributing to increased photosynthetic rates. C4 plants include maize, sorghum and sugar cane. Maltose: Sweet Delight of Brewing & Energy Beer: Malting & Mashing in Grain Fermentation Three Types of Amylase in Digestion & Fermentation sorghum Glucose and the Microscopic World Yeast and Fermentation Yeast, like Saccharomyces cerevisiae , uses glucose in the process of fermentation to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide. This process is used for brewing beer, baking bread, and producing biofuels. 1 kg of glucose makes about 0.5 L of ethanol. Bacteria and Decomposition Bacteria are essential to decompose organic matter. The enzymes they secrete reduce complex carbohydrates to glucose, which is used as an energy source. Some bacteria can produce glucose from CO2 even in the absence of sunlight. They use chemical energy in the process of chemosynthesis. Lactase: Nature's Milk Digestion Enzyme Lactic Acid Bacteria: Team Players of Fermentation Saccharomyces cerevisiae : Queen of Yeasts building blocks - sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose Microbial Products Many microorganisms create products from glucose, including antibiotics, organic acids (like citric acid and lactic acid), and bioplastics. These are used in medicine, food processing and the ever-growing industry of environmental remediation due to pollution caused by growth of industry. Lactic Acid Bacteria Some bacteria ferment glucose to create lactic acid, prevalent in food preservation and flavor enhancement. A cup of yogurt contains about 12 grams of glucose, made with the fermentation process. Decomposers Bacteria and fungi decompose organic materials, releasing glucose and other carbon compounds back into the soil. This process enriches the soil and promotes plant health, with decomposers contributing to over 50% of soil organic matter. Enzymes: Marvels of Nature & Human Health Galactose: Simple Sugar of Nature & Health Secrets of Xanthan Gum for Artists & Chefs Good E. coli are important decomposers commonly isolated from soil (image: CDC) Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Loreley (Lorelei) is a rock inhabited by a spirit of the same name. At the narrowest part of the Rhine River, Germany, the beauty and power of nature inspire writers and artists. The Lorelei siren originates in the 19th century. Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good Nature Spirits of German Mythology German Romanticism: Nature & Emotion Lorelei, Nymph of the Rhine - Charles Edward Halle 1901 Loreley means 'murmuring place,' from earlier German Lurley . Legends surround the rock from pagan times. Until mid-1800s, a waterfall occupies part of the Loreley. Churning water casts echoes, seemingly from different parts of the rock. In ancient lore the murmuring sounds are attributed to Dwarfs . Today the waterfall is gone, due to the heavy industrialism of the 19th century, but the Freilichtbühne Loreley amphitheater (built 1930) atop the rock makes use of the great acoustics. Klabautermann - Germanic Sea Kobold Wiedergänger - the Undead Walk Again Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses View from the Loreley (Lorelei) Rock in the Middle Rhine River The legend of the Loreley siren is a tragedy of love unrequited. She's first mentioned in an 1801 ballad by German author Clemens Brentano, Zu Bacharach am Rheine (To Bacharach on the Rhine ). Lore Lay is accused by her lover of charming and luring men to their deaths. The Bishop sends her to a nunnery, escorted by guards. They come to the great rock. She begs to climb up to see the beauty of the Rhine once more. They consent. She thinks she sees her lover in the water and hurls herself from the cliffs to perish on the stormy rocks below. Perchta, Bright One: German Goddess Klagefrau: Wailing Woman of German Folklore Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg A tragic tale of love creates the Lorelei Combing her hair with a golden comb, the alluring maid sits upon the rocks above the Rhine. Her song is irresistible, gliding through tempest and gale to call sailors and fisherman to their doom. She may play a lute or lyre, and in some interpretations has a the tail of a fish. As a river siren she's a type of water spirit, the Nyx or nixies  of German mythology. While nixies are known as ancient spirits, the tale of the Lorelei brings them into contemporary mythology. Schrat: German Nightmare Forest Elf Fire Men & Lights Errant: German Lore German Folklore - Irrwurz or Mad Root Loreley (Lorelei) view of the rock from the Rhine The rock is 5 km (3.1 mi) from the village of Sankt Goarshausen, seat of the Loreley collective municipality. The town's economy is based on wine making and tourism. The steep sunny slopes of the Rhine are famous for some of the be wine grapes in Europe. Grape varieties of the region include: Red varietals : Dornfelder, Regent and Pinot Noir (Spatburgunder) White varietals : Riesling, Muller-Thurgau, Kerner, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris Wine God Liber: Liberty & Liberal Libation Wild Women and Winter Tales Chicken Soup: Chickens in German Folklore Riesling grapes In the first part of the 19th century a Romantic era suffuses German culture. Popularized by such artists as Kaspar (Caspar) David Friedrich , the Romantic ideal replaces the intellect and objectivity of neo-Classicism with a mystic dream quality of nature and emotion. In 1824, German writer and poet Heinrich Heine adapts Brentano's theme to the poem "Die Lorelei", which became one of his most famous compositions. In 1837 Heine's lyrics are set to music by Friedrich Silcher, and so the song of the Loreley goes on. Edelweiss: Alpine Flower of True Love Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Gnomes: Earth Spirits of Renaissance Mythology Loreley Rock Postcard in French and German Nixies are once used as Kinderschrecken or "child frights" to keep children away from wells, ponds or marshes where they could fall in and drown, or to scare them into good behavior. Others include harvest spirits and wicked witches . Helpers of St Nicolas like Krampus or Belsnickel bring candy for the good and birch switches for the naughty. Nachtkrapp (Night Raven) ensures prompt bedtime. The concept of nixies in the famous Wagner opera emerges from the Romance era. The nixies are sisters, water spirits of the Rhine, called the Rheintöchter or Daughters of the Rhine. They appear in the early part of Der Ring des Nibelungen or The Ring of the Nibelung (1869 - 1876 ). German Myth - Headless Horseman Amazons - Warrior Women History & Myth Arcadia - Greek Lands of Ancient Gods Daughters of the Rhine (19th century) - Water Nixies Daughters of Father Rhine , the Rheintöchter are keepers of the Rheingold (Rhine Gold). The dwarf Alberich asks about the treasure. They tell him if the gold is forged into a ring it will give its owner infinite power over the world - but love must be renounced. They tease him mercilessly with their charms until Alberich curses love and seizes the Rheingold, making him the villain of the story. Wagner's Rheintöchter are inspired by the ancient concepts of nixies as well as the 19th century romantic inclination. Nibelung - Stories of Heroes & Worms Romanesque - Magic of Light & Stone Fänggen (Fangga): Man-Eaters of Tyrol After the German spelling reform of 1901, the letter "i" replaces letter "y" in the German language, with the exception of some place names such as Bayern, Speyer, and Loreley. The spelling Lorelei may be used in German and both versions are correct. Loreley rock is 132 m (433 ft) high. Here the Rhine River is up to 25 m (82 ft) deep and just 370 m (113 ft) wide. It's subject to strong currents which can pull people under. Shipwrecks and drowning accidents are said to be caused by the haunting the song of the Lorelei. Mugwort (Wormwood) Herbal Lore Witches & Witchcraft: Ancient World German Myth & Folklore: Elves Below is the poem by Heine. English translation is followed by German original. English The Lorelei (1841) Heinrich Heine I do not know the reason why To sorrow I’m inclined. A story from the olden days Is preying on my mind. Light’s fading and the air is cool And quiet flows the Rhine, The mountain top’s still glowing As the sun’s last rays decline. Seated up there, gorgeous, A maid beyond compare, Her golden jewellery glitters, She combs her golden hair. She combs it with a golden comb And sings a song betimes, A song with a strange melody, With strange and powerful rhymes. The boatman in his little boat, Gripped by a savage love, Does not see the rocky reef, Sees only what’s above. I think the waves consumed them, Boat and boatman, bye and bye. And that’s what, with her singing, Was done by Lorelei. Sailing - Bronze Age Sails & Sailcloth Red Ocher (Ochre) Ancient Pigments Queen Eleanor & the Calamitous Crusade Und jetzt auf Deutsch: Die Loreley (1841) Heinrich Heine Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten Daß ich so traurig bin; Ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten Das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn. Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt, Und ruhig fließt der Rhein; Der Gipfel des Berges funkelt Im Abendsonnenschein. Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet Dort oben wunderbar, Ihr goldnes Geschmeide blitzet, Sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar. Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme Und singt ein Lied dabei, Das hat eine wundersame, Gewaltige Melodei. Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe Ergreift es mit wildem Weh, Er schaut nicht die Felsenrisse, Er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh. Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn. Und das hat mit ihrem Singen Die Loreley getan. Germany: A Little 19th Century History Hünenburg: Bronze Age European Trade Hub House Spirits of Germanic Mythology Back to Top

Noble rot has tremendous impact in winemaking, especially of dessert wines. This dowdy fungus, Botrytis cinerea , is a phenomenon in viticulture merging nature's unusual gifts with creativity and style of the maker. Red & White Tartar: Wine Salts of Alchemy Terroir in Wine & Food: Expression of Place Yeast & Vineyard Microbes: Flavors of Wine Autumn is the season for noble rot Dessert wines are classed into five styles: Sparkling, Light & Sweet, Rich & Sweet, Sweet Red, and Fortified. Noble rot can intensify their qualities for ambrosial delight or devastate a batch with rampant mold growth. While mold is typically viewed as a foe in the vineyard, noble rot is an exception. Under the right conditions it produces extraordinary wines. It's a boon to collectors, wine aficionados and vintners. Noble rot refers to a specific form of gray rot caused by the Botrytis cinerea f ungus. Its less favorable counterpart, known simply as "gray rot," causes decay and spoilage in unripe or improperly handled grapes. Flavonoids: the Big Five of Aroma, Flavor & Color 4 Infused Wines of Ancient Medicine Four Humors & Medical Stagnation Dessert Wines by Noble Rot While noble rot can affect other fruit like strawberries, its specialty is grapes. It forms in optimal conditions to enhance flavors and characteristics of affected grapes. It desiccates the grapes, concentrating their sugars, acidity, and flavor compounds. This can impart unique characteristics unachievable through traditional winemaking processes. Noble rot is known to create the most sumptuous of sweet wines. Hanseniaspora : Wild Lovers of Sweet Grapes Pan: Wild Rustic God of Music & Flocks Wild Yeast: Microbes Acting Naturally process of noble rot Noble rot happens in regions with a blend of warm, humidity followed by dry, sunny spells. The ideal climate for noble rot is characterized by morning fog and warm afternoons. Conditions like these are found in wine regions such as Sauternes in Bordeaux, Tokaj in Hungary, and the Loire Valley of France. The rot process begins with the fungus infecting the grapes while they're still on the vine. Killer Yeast: Assassins of the Microworld Ancient Grains: Wheat, Barley, Millet, Rice Flavors of Coffee: From Harvest to Homestead Noble rot can affect both red and white wine grapes Once the grape skins are penetrated, Botrytis cinerea begins to extract moisture from the grapes. This process concentrates the sugars, acids and flavors, reducing berry size and intensifying of their essence. Grapes which would normally produce a standard wine can yield rich dessert wines with sugar levels reaching up to 400 grams per liter. Noble rot brings an exceptional flavor complexity to the wine. Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Kombucha: Ancient Brew & DIY Health Tea 10 Wise Plants & Herbs for the Elixir of Life Sauternes Wines Noble rot introduces distinctive aromas and flavors absent in unaffected grapes. The resulting wines can present a captivating mix of floral, fruity, and earthy attributes. The fungus usually starts to show up in late autumn. Timing is essential. If the weather is too humid for too long, noble rot devolves into gray rot. This is true horror for vintners as it causes widespread decay and spoilage. Electrolytes: Vital Minerals of Human & Environmental Health Amino Acids: Optimal Body Health & Energy Tannins: Complex Astringents of Nature Despite its tricky destructive potential, noble rot is highly desirable. Wine makers seek out and cultivate noble rot conditions to create wines with layered depths of flavor and aging potential. Wines from Botrytis cinerea  often have flavors of honey, apricot, peach, and spices. These rich notes are balanced by the natural acidity of the grapes. Rosemary: Immortal Essence & Balm of Kings Turmeric (Curcuma longa): Ancient Uses & Medicine Science of Onion Tears: Demystifying Acids Elevated sugar levels and exceptional flavors due to Botrytis cinerea  yield wines with a nectar-like quality. These often have an artful balance of sweetness and acidity, providing a unique taste experience. For example, Sauternes wines can contain around 120 grams of residual sugar per liter. By maintaining acidity levels the vintner ensures they do not taste overly sweet. Cheese Making: Rennet & Natural Alternatives Honey Mead: Most Ancient Ambrosia Lactic Acid Bacteria: Nature to Modern Uses sugar Many wines from noble rot also demonstrate impressive aging potential. As a wine matures, it reveals layers of complexity, to the delight of producers and consumers. Noble rot is a paradox in viticulture, a phenomenon both f ê ted and dreaded. When conditions are just right, magic happens, giving rise to some of the most exquisite and revered wines in the world. Wine God Liber: Liberty & Liberal Libation How Yeast Transforms Sugars to Booze Malevolent Microfungi: Hazards of Health & Home Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Ancient Worms, Germany is central to the story of Germanic hero Siegfried and epic poem Nibelungenlied (Song of the Nibelungs). Prince of Xanten, Siegfried's not discriminating. He treats dragons, Dwarfs and damsels with equal disdain. Scheming relatives are his nemesis. Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses Pioneering German Women - Bertha Benz Kriemhild accuses Hagen of murdering Siegfried The city of Worms (English pron. ~ Voorms ) is on the west bank of the Rhine. The name comes from the Celtic Borbetomagus meaning 'settlement in a watery place'. From this arises Latin Vormatia in the 6th century, and finally Worms. In antiquity the city is a stronghold and center of administration for the Burgundians, a German tribe who cross the Rhine in 406 - 7 AD. They figure prominently in the adventures of Siegfried, who weds Burgundian princess Kriemhild . According to Nibelungenlied , Siegfried slays the dragon Fafnir at Gnita-Heath, near the city of Worms. Dated c. 1200, in the High Middle Ages, Nibelungenlied is a handwritten account of the infamous exploits of Siegfried, set in the 5th century. Carl Wilhelm Scheele: Poisonous Chemistry Romanesque - Magic of Light and Stone German Myth - White Ladies & Changelings Nibelungturm (Nibelung Tower) in Worms, Germany The Nibelungen are a race of mountain Dwarfs in the northern realms . Siegfried tricks the Dwarf Sorcerer King Alberich and steals his Tarnkappe , a cloak of invisibility. The epic poem weaves through the plots of the powerful Burgundians. It conveys the agony of beautiful Kriemhild ; the tragic fate of Brunhilde , once Queen of Iceland; betrayal of brothers, and how uncertain allies like Attila the Hun are part of myth and history of Germania. Germany: A Little 19th Century History Song of the Loreley - Lethal Attraction Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Attila the Hun (right) not wishing to be Christianized Although Siegfried is known as an epic hero he does some un-heroic things which seal the fates of two Queens and their kingdoms. Of course, it's a rat-eat-rat world and when her delusions are shattered, Kriemhild knows her best ally is strategy. Despite the jealousy between them, two true stars of the Nibelungen story are Kriemhild and Brunhilde. Both women emerge in the tale as warriors whose prowess is affected in different ways, entwined with love and deceit. Perchta, Bright One: German Goddess Klagefrau: Wailing Woman of German Folklore Butzemann, Witches & Nyx - Scare 'em Good In the Lora Ley fantasy fiction  novel Nibelung ,  half-Nyx   Lora and friends are thrown back in time to the days of Kriemhild, Brunhilde, Siegfried and the Nibelungen treasure. Complications arise as midsummer festivities get into full swing, a Dwarf King rises and war breaks out with Romans. Attila the Hun makes a feature appearance, love potions go awry, and how does Shakespeare fit into all this? Lora Ley Book Two - Nibelung Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Brunhilde is the Queen of Isenland in German mythology. Her tale is written in the Middle Ages and centers on her tragic deception by Siegfried of Xanten and her husband to be, Gunter of the Burgundians. Nibelung - Stories of Heroes & Worms Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians Famous Women of Ancient Rome Burgundian capital Worms (Borbetomagus) city wall and Tower The Burgundians of the fifth century appear in the Nibelungenlied , a German epic of 1200 AD. King of Burgundy, Gunter, refuses to let Siegfried wed the lovely princess Kriemhild until Gunter himself is married. Tales of a warrior Queen of Isenland come to the ears of the King. Isenland is often equated with Iceland. Proud and beautiful, she's a perfect woman for him, so he thinks. Brunhilde beats all her suitors in feats of strength. Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Bird Woman Elwetritsch: German Folklore Song of the Loreley - Lethal Attraction Brunhilde (Brunnhild) Queen of Isenland Translated from the Nibelungenlied : "There was a queen who resided over the sea Whose like no one knew of anywhere. She was exceedingly beautiful and great in physical strength. She shot the shaft with bold knights – love was the prize." She competes with them in a spear throwing contest, a long jump competition and boulder hurling. With her amazing strength she wins every time, and retains her position of Queen of the winter lands. Kings and warriors go away drooping with humiliation. She keeps their presents of treasure, weapons and animals. Ziu - Ancient Sky God of Germania Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Hesperus (Vesper) the Evening Star going to pasture King Gunter of the Burgundians knows the tales, so he requests help of Siegfried before he allows the hero to marry the princess. Siegfried hies off to the northern realms to steal the Tarnkappe . This cloak or hat of invisibility gives its wearer superhuman strength. It's owned by Alberich, the King of the Mountain Dwarfs. He tricks the Dwarf King and runs back to Borbetomagus (Worms) with his prize. Women of Alchemy: Anna Maria Zieglerin Status & Rights of Women in Imperial Rome Carl Wilhelm Scheele: Poisonous Chemistry hee hee hee! Gunter's eager to set sail. He loads several ships with weapons, gold, white bulls and other presents. After a long difficult journey they finally arrive in the winter lands. Queen Brunhilde comes to meet them, an amazing figure of statuesque beauty with fiery red hair. She gets a glimpse of Siegfried as the boats unload, and wonders if it's he who came to woo her, for he has the most lordly bearing of all the men. Then he abruptly vanishes. King Gunter greets Brunhilde and her party. Romanesque - Magic of Light and Stone German Myth - White Ladies & Changelings German Myth & Folklore: Dwarfs The King has a bashful attack Brunhilde gazes at Gunter with disdain and he cannot look her in the eye. She's certain she can win the challenges. She's beaten better men. They have a fine feast, then the games begin. Spear-throwing is the first challenge. Brunhilde throws hers so far it strikes a tree in a distant forest. Gunter looks dubious as he picks up his spear, and throws with the strength of a sick fish - yet for some reason his spear flies far into the distant forest, even further than hers. Feudalism & the German Peasants' War Queen Eleanor & the Calamitous Crusade Medieval France: Peasants, Knights & Urbanites where did it go? Brunhilde is puzzled, but they continue to the next feat. With a running start the competitors have to jump as far as possible. Brunhilde goes first. She runs then leaps high, over the trees to the other side of the forest. She's amazed to witness Gunter sail through the air to leap even further. It barely seems an effort for him. She has no idea the invisible super-strong Siegfried carries him all the way. The Many Faces of Frau Holle Ancient Grains: Wheat, Barley, Millet, Rice Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Now Brunhilde feels she has sorely underestimated this man. She has to beat him in the next challenge or submit to him as a wife. The third challenge is the boulder hurl and the boulders are bigger than Gunter. Brunhilde picks up a massive rock like it's papier mâché, steadies herself and throws with all her strength. The rock flies so far it strikes a mountain and shatters. Amazons - Warrior Women History & Myth Christine de Pizan: Medieval Writings Lora Ley Adventures - Feast of Fools rubble Yet the rock Gunter hurls travels through the air and all the way to the sea behind the mountain, as witnessed by two fishermen. Queen Brunhilde has to cede the contest to Gunter, although she's very suspicious. He has neither the constitution nor the attitude of a great warrior. He drinks so much at the celebration feast he has to be carried to his bedchamber. Belsnickel - German Yule Ghoul House Spirits of Germanic Mythology Baltic Aetsi & the Roman Amber Texts bleh, what a loser. Meanwhile, Brunhilde silently bewails her fate, though her expression gives nothing away. She wonders what happened to the warrior she saw when the ships came to shore, and thinks more of him than of Gunter. She's also missing a jeweled ring from her finger. Though her warriors and ladies look everywhere, it's not to be found. The next day they set sail back to the lands of the Burgundians. Gunter can't wait to get his hands on Brunhilde, but when he tries to jump her, she ties him up and hangs him on a hook for the night. Klabautermann - Germanic Sea Kobold Wiedergänger - the Undead Walk Again Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses The second night the same thing happens, and finally Gunter goes to Siegfried for help. Siegfried is a firm believer in women knowing their place. So, he dons the Tarnkappe once more, and restrains Brunhilde while Gunter has his way. Siegfried takes Brunhilde's girdle as a prize, just as he took her ring. Pagan Solstice Fests: Mithras & the Sun Mulberry Tree (Morus): Uses, Folklore & Myth Der Türst: Dread Huntsman & the Wild Hunt ... her ring Now Brunhilde is well and truly deceived, and has no choice but to give herself willingly as a wife to Gunter. Siegfried marries Princess Kriemhild and takes her to Xanten, his northerly home. Brunhilde becomes Queen of the Burgundians. Yet, try as she might, she has a hard time being an obedient subservient wife. The Maiden & The Lindwyrm - A Fairy Tale German Myth - Werewolves Erinyes - Vengeful Women of Ancient Greece She cannot see him as an equal, let along a lord or king. Nonetheless Brunhilde fulfills her womanly duties on personal and social levels. Fortunately for her (or him), Gunter is often away at war. He harries Roman settlements and encampments along the east side of the Rhine. When he's away it's Siegfried she thinks of, not him, and her bitterness gnaws inside her. She will soon enough learn the terrible truth. Poppaea Sabina: Child Bride to Roman Empress Eschenfrau: Wicked Ash Tree Woman Gnomes: Earth Spirits of Renaissance Mythology She lays her strategy well. Casually she mentions to Gunter that his vassal Siegfried should be sending warriors to help Gunter's cause. Siegfried is rich enough, having possession of the never-ending Nibelungen treasure. Brunhilde convinces Gunter she's lonely for the company of Kriemhild, her sister in law. At first resistant, Gunter finally agrees to ask Siegfried and Kriemhild to attend the midsummer's feast in June. When they arrive, Kriemhild and Brunhilde embrace as sisters. Yet, while the men are off hunting, antagonisms flare between the women. Casting the Bones - Astragalomancy Wolfsbane (Aconitum) Ancient Poisons Chun Yuyan & Death of Empress Xu Each argues her husband is the strongest, most courageous and heroic. Brunhilde wants Kriemhild to admit her husband's vassal status, but the proud Queen of Xanten laughs. She shows Brunhilde the ring on her finger and the girdle around her waist. Brunhilde gasps when she recognizes the ornaments Siegfried stole from her while wearing the Tarnkappe . Her world comes crashing down as she realizes how she's been tricked. She has given up her lands, pride and maidenhood to a pair of conniving weasels. Perchta, Bright One: German Goddess Klagefrau: Wailing Woman of German Folklore Chinese Alchemical Elixir Poisoning Little does Brunhilde know she will never see Siegfried alive again. While on the hunt, Gunter and his advisor Hagen trick and murder him, and bring the body back to Worms, claiming he was killed by a wild boar. Brunhilde's fate differs but is always tragic. In one version, she flees to her chambers and falls upon her sword after learning the truth. In another, she throws herself on the funeral pyre of Siegfried, in love with him despite his heinous treachery. Catherine de' Medici & the Occult Famous Women of Renaissance Alchemy Witches & Witchcraft: Ancient World The Poetic Edda, a collection of mythological and heroic poems composed c. 800 -1100 AD, portrays Brunhilde as a Valkyrie and daughter of Odin. She will marry only a man without fear. She lives surrounded by a wall of flame. Siegfried in true hero form arrives to rescue her, and she teaches him ancient wisdom and the runes. She's associated with teaching the runes in more than one tale. The Poetic Edda precedes the Nibelungenlied (c. 1200 AD) in which Brunhilde is betrayed. The romantic relation between Brunhilde and Siegfried goes back further than the popular legend and may explain part of her passion. Sun Goddesses of World Mythology German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Herbs & Natural Remedies - Ancient Egypt In some versions, Brunhild is a Valkyrie behind a wall of fire, who teaches Siegfried the Runes In another tale, Brunhild is behind a wall of fire, tricked by Siegfried who poses as Gunter. Later, she and Kriemhild argue about who gets to wash her hair further upstream, and Gunter and Siegfried's deceit emerges. In yet another account Brunhilde dies by the hand of Hagen, one of the conspirators in Siegfried's murder. Or she fades away, a tragic heroine whose part in the story is done. Over the centuries her legend lives on. Wolpertinger: German Myths & Folklore Victorian Trends - Stripes to Taxidermy Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) French operatic star Rose Carron plays Brunhilde in 1884 Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Kriemhild marries Germanic hero Siegfried of Xanten . A princess of Burgundy, she grows up in the halls of royal plots and suspicious deaths. Sheltered from the outside world she is trained in courtly life and etiquette. She can do a mean cross-stitch. The only thing required of her is obedience. German Myth & Folklore: Moss People Herbology & Lore: Poison Hemlock Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Kriemhild's beauty is legendary In Xanten, up near the Netherlands, Prince Siegfried is a strong, handsome young man. He's a little too tricky and a little too trusting at the wrong times, but without that we wouldn't have a story. The fate of sweet Kriemhild is inexorably interwoven with his. Siegfried hears many tales of the southern Burgundian princess. Her beauty is legend, her temper meek and mild, her skills at music and poetry pleasing. When not thinking of her, Siegfried keeps himself busy with heroic business such as dragon-slaying. He kills the dragon Fafnir, who guards a legendary treasure. Lora Ley Adventures - Feast of Fools Nibelung - Stories of Heroes & Worms Knights Templar Crusades & Medieval France On the advice of a Dwarf, Siegfried bathes in the dragon's blood to make himself invulnerable to weapons. As he does so a linden leaf falls on his shoulder blade and blood doesn't touch that spot. Siegfried gets the dragon's treasure and is rich beyond his wildest dreams. When a dragon, such as Lindwyrm , lies on a treasure the abundance multiplies. Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Lucrezia Borgia: Exploring the Enigma Queen Eleanor & the Calamitous Crusade Siegfried comes a-knocking at the castle gate Cash in hand, he comes courting Kriemhild. Her brother King Gunter entertains Siegfried in grand style, and they go on hunts and into battle. Siegfried slays a multitude of foes and saves Gunter's scraggly hide. When Siegfried asks to see Kriemhild, Gunter is hesitant but considering he owes Siegfried his life, a cheap commodity in warlike times, has to agree. It's love at first sight, or fiftieth sight as Siegfried manages to sneak a few peeks at Kriemhild when she passes by with her ladies. She flutters her lashes in his direction too, flattered by the attentions of the hero. German Myth - Headless Horseman Elderberry Tree: Germanic Nature Lore Chicken Soup: Chickens in German Folklore A little flirtation, a little romance Scheming Gunter is no hopeless romantic. He says Siegfried can marry Kriemhild only if Gunter is married first. Gunter thinks Brunhilde, Queen of Isenland, is the woman for him. He has only to defeat her in a series of trials of strength and speed, and wants help from Siegfried. And so Siegfried agrees, and goes off to steal the Tarnkappe from the Mountain Dwarfs, or Nibelungen . Humbaba: Giant Mountain Forest Man Renaissance Apocalypse: End is Nigh Nature Spirits of German Mythology Land of the Mountain Dwarfs The Tarnkappe, a cape or in some stories a hat, renders its wearer invisible and gives him superhuman strength. After deceiving the King of the Mountain Dwarfs, Siegfried gets the Tarnkappe and runs back to Worms. After much feasting Siegfried and Gunter set sail for Isenland, a long miserable journey. The land is barren and snow-swept, but when Brunhilde comes to meet them they forget all that. Her hair is like fire, her bearing proud. She invites them in. Bird Woman Elwetritsch: German Folklore Screaming Swiss Spirit: Pfaffenkellnerin Brunhilde: Tragic Germanic Warrior Queen Renowned Queen of Isenland Brunhilde Siegfried stays beneath the Tarnkappe, invisible. After more feasting the games begin - the spear throw, long jump and boulder hurl. Brunhilde is mighty in strength as well as beauty but invisible Siegfried, with the strength of ten men, helps Gunter win. The Queen has to admit defeat, but she's suspicious. Also, her jeweled ring is suddenly missing. She accompanies Gunter on his boat, but when he tries to approach her for pre-nuptial fun she ties him up and hangs him on a hook. Thus Gunter convinces Siegfried to help once more. Invisible, Siegfried holds her down so she thinks it the strength of Gunter overpowering her, and she gives in. Siegfried takes her girdle as a souvenir and leaves. House Spirits of Germanic Mythology Sun Goddesses of World Mythology Herbology & Lore: Rowan (Mountain Ash) Kriemhild and Siegfried get married. Finally, Siegfried and Kriemhild get married and go to Xanten to rule as King and Queen, and spend the treasure. The treasure keeps replenishing itself, for it's taken on its own magic. And now the real trouble starts. Brunhilde and Kriemhild are at odds over who has the more powerful husband. Brunhilde calls the couple from Xanten to Worms for midsummer celebrations. Nanaya - Goddess of Erotic Love Care and Feeding of Your German Kobold Honey Mead: Most Ancient Ambrosia Meanwhile Hagen, treacherous uncle of Gunter and Kriemhild, hatches a plot to murder Siegfried and get the treasure himself. He knows Siegfried has a vulnerability and tricks Kriemhild into revealing the spot. Hagen and Gunter take Siegfried on a hunting trip. Hagen sneaks up behind Siegfried with a spear while he's drinking at a spring, and strikes a deadly blow. Mulberry Tree (Morus): Uses, Folklore & Myth German Myth & Folklore: Imps Speyer, Lorelei & Murder on the Rhine Kriemhild accuses Hagen of murdering Siegfried Back at the castle the women's tempers flare. Brunhilde argues Siegfried is vassal to Gunter and Kriemhild triumphantly produces the girdle Siegfried stole, and points to Brunhilde's jeweled ring on her own finger. At last Brunhilde to her horror realizes the trick. She goes to her room and falls upon a sword, ending her life. When Hagen and Gunter bring the dead Siegfried back to the castle, Kriemhild is stricken with grief. She gets the treasure from Xanten and starts giving it away to people. Hagen decides she's gone mad and enlists Gunter's help to steal it and dump it in the Rhine. To this day people still search for the fabled Nibelungen hoard. Wiedergänger - the German Undead Song of the Loreley - Lethal Attraction Steam & Style - Agrippina of the Rhine Is the Nibelungen treasure still in the Rhine? Kriemhild takes hold of Siegfried's sword. When Gunter won't tell her where the treasure lies, she takes a mighty swing and cuts off his head in a spray of blood. Meek and mild no more, Kriemhild tastes the bitter fruit of victory. She wounds Hagen, who runs away. Sword in hand, she chases him down like a vengeful Valkyrie and slays him too. As the last of her innocence turns to blood on her hands, Kriemhild becomes a warrior with a heart of steel. Klagefrau: Wailing Woman of German Folklore German Romanticism: Nature & Emotion Visigoths, King Alaric & the Ruin of Rome Her later fate is blurred. In some tales she marries or partners with Attila the Hun. In this version she invites all her relatives to a feast and burns them alive in the Great Hall. In other tales she marries Attila, and he dies of a nosebleed on their wedding night. In others still, she marries a common man, has a couple of children and eventually dies peacefully of old age. Pioneering German Women - Bertha Benz A Viking Christmas Yule The Many Faces of Frau Holle Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

The headless horseman gallops through the folklore of Germany, Ireland, Scotland and North America. Though he appears singly there may be more than one, as in tales from the German Rhineland. Nature Spirits of German Mythology Wiedergänger - One Who Walks Again Wild Women and Winter Tales Flaming Skull - could be carried by Headless Horsemen Celtic and German pagan culture sometimes overlap. The Celts occupy a broad swath of Germania during the Iron Age. One example of crossover is the Wild Hunt , where the mythical Welsh king Gwyn ap Nudd is among the leaders. Other leaders of the Hunt include Norse god Odin or wife Frigg ; heroes such as Siegfried of Xanten ; and multi-faceted ancient goddess Frau Holle or Hulda of German origin. Headless horsemen commonly partake. The Many Faces of Frau Holle Werewolf & Werewolves of Germany Curse of the Evil Eye & Apotropaic Magic Wild Hunt led by Odin In America, the headless horseman is best known from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow . The 1820 story is written by American author Washington Irving. A year earlier, In 1819, Irving pens the tale of Rip Van Winkle, who sleeps for a hundred years. It's not surprising to find the author suffers from insomnia. Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Castle Frankenstein - Legend & Lore Witches' Night - Hexennacht sleepy ... The Legend of Sleepy Hollow takes place during the Revolutionary War (1775 - 83). The Headless Horseman is a Hessian German soldier beheaded by an American cannonball at the Battle of White Plains in Oct, 1776. The Hessians are auxiliary troops for the British. In this case, the soldier is buried without his head. He rises up at night in search of it, with a flaming jack o' lantern as replacement. In modern tales he appears at Hallowe'en. Gnomes: Earth Spirits of Renaissance Mythology Warrior Queen: Kriemhild of the Burgundians Ullikummi - Rock Monster of Legend Headless Horse & Rider, illustration W. H. Brooke 1834 In Irish folklore, the dullahan or dulachán (dark man) is a headless, demonic fairy who carries his head beneath his arm. His whip is made from the spine of a human corpse. A death is said to occur if the dullahan stops riding. He calls a name and the person drops dead. Mythic Fire Gods: Hephaestus of the Greek House Spirits of Germanic Mythology Schrat: German Nightmare Forest Elf In another version he's the headless driver of a black coach called the Cóiste Bodhar or Death Coach. The dark carriage is known throughout mythology of northwestern Europe. In Scotland it appears along the Royal Mile to pick up the dead. Also in the northwest arises a similar figure, a rampaging headless fairy called the gan ceann (without a head). Menacing as he is, unlike other headless horsemen he can be frightened away by gold in his path or worn by a person. Germanic Mythology - Brook Horses Noisy Spirits of German Mythology Amygdalin: Bitter Almonds & the Cyanogenic Compound Horse laughing its head off In Germany, stories of Headless Horsemen center around the Rhineland-Palatinate, or Middle Rhine region. Some scholars think Irving's story is inspired by a German tale from Johann Karl August Musäus's retellings of German folktales ( Volksmärchen der Deutschen , 1783). The German Headless Horsemen are revenants who fall into the category of Wiedergänger , the Undead who rise again. They wander the countryside seeking atonement for their sins or crimes. Industry & the Age of Monsters Fire Men & Lights Errant: German Lore Chamomile - Herbology & Folklore ... can we do you a favor? The Horsemen might have to do one or more good deeds to make up for transgressions in life. They're dangerous to encounter as they can kill with a touch. Thus after the good deed, instead of shaking hands with the recipient, the Horseman holds out a tree branch, and the person takes hold of the other end. This causes the branch to die instead of the person. Der Türst: Dread Huntsman & the Wild Hunt Sträggele: Witch Hag of the Wild Hunt Nature Spirits of German Mythology Oops, where'd I park ye horse? Many cultural and mythological traditions are brought to North America by German settlers from the Rhineland-Palatinate area. These include the fearsome Christmas figure of Belsnickel , and the Irrwurz or Mad Root . In Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, the headless horseman tale crosses the pond with Scottish settlers. It centers on a man named Ewen, who wants to be a chieftain. He loses his head at a clan battle on the Isle of Mull near Scotland. Both he and his horse are headless, and to see him is a sign of a death imminent in the family. German Harvest Spirits - Dragons German Myth - Werewolves Herbology & Lore: Poison Hemlock don't look! Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Arsenic (As) has been called the King of Poisons and the Poison of Kings. This silvery metalloid appears abundantly in the Earth and naturally in living things. Just like most other poisons, a little could cure and a lot will kill, and the difference is marginal. Albertus Magnus: Alchemy, Arsenic, Astrology Heavy Metals Cadmium, Mercury, Lead, Chromium & Arsenic Arsenic Trioxide: Paris Green Paint Pigment & Pesticide Arsenic has no smell or taste . The advantage of using arsenic for assassination and other murders is slow buildup in the body, causing gradual worsening of symptoms. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning are mild at first, mimicking flu with diarrhea, vomiting and intestinal pain. As poisoning continues, the victim experiences tingling or numbness, muscle cramping and eventually death. Arsenic is known as a favorite poison of women, used historically to eliminate family members and other threats. In more than one case an unhappy bride or stepmother poisoned kids and adults alike under the guise of treatment and concern. A famous case is Mary Ann Cotton (1832 - 1873), a British nurse, housekeeper and prolific serial killer. Vulcano: Child Miners, Gods & Extremophiles Alchemist Dippel: the Frankenstein Files Mysteries of Bona Dea: Women's Rites in Ancient Rome Arsenic has no taste or smell Poison is the murder weapon of choice for many women, who find it a more genteel way of killing someone than the violence of guns or knives. It's particularly popular from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The non-fictional King Midas of the 8th century BCE is said to have committed suicide by taking red arsenic, known as bull's blood. At the age of fourteen, Nero of Rome has his stepbrother Britannicus poisoned with arsenic. It might be under the direction of his mother, Agrippina , as Britannicus stands in Nero's way as rightful heir to Rome. Agrippina & Son: Poisonous Plots of Rome Is Cherry Laurel Poisonous? Famous Women of Ancient Rome Agrippina crowns Nero, marble, c. 54 - 58 AD Besides arsenic, popular poisons for murder include the death cap mushroom , destroying angel , hemlock and one of Nero's inventions, cyanide infused cherry laurel water. He tries to poison his mother more than once, but she is wise to the ways of poisoners. Antidotes are all the rage in ancient Rome, both for poisoned relatives and snakebite. Italy is inhabited by four species of venomous snakes. Some physicians and alchemists specialize in poisons. By the Renaissance, poisonings are still popular, most famously involving the Borgias . Lucrezia Borgia: Exploring the Enigma Poppaea Sabina: Child Bride to Roman Empress Plant Lore: Stinking Nightshade, Henbane Crystals of Bull's Blood, or red arsenic Although arsenic compounds are known for centuries, German scholar Albertus Magnus discovers the element in 1250 AD. In the 1830s a test for arsenic poisoning is created. Arsenic shows up in the hair and nails. Tests don't mean much unless the doctor suspects poisoning, and still some murders went undetected for years. In the 19th century arsenic is easy to get as coating for flypaper, which can be soaked off. Pretty Poisons: Holly, Yew, Mistletoe Scheele's Green: History's Most Toxic Pigment Agathodaemon: Fire, Silver & Alchemy Arsenic poisoning can show up in hair and nails Arsenic is often found together with sulfur , an important element in alchemy, other metals or more rarely as pure crystal. The three common types are grey, yellow, and black arsenic. Of these, grey occurs most often. Arsenic is associated with swans due to its transmutative ability to change from one form to another. Symbols of arsenic include two connected circles perhaps referring to the alembic , essential in alchemy. Arsenic alchemical symbol The alembic is a tool for distillation and separation, two vessels joined by a tube or pipe. Some use two overlapping triangles to denote arsenic. Another symbol is a coiled snake ready to strike. Sublimation & the Aludel: Medieval Alchemy Herbology & Lore: Poison Hemlock 19th Century: Home Gym, Bicycles, Antiseptic Arsenic metalloid During the Bronze Age, arsenic is often used with copper to form a harder bronze, and when tin, the usual 12% partner, was unavailable. As a result arsenic builds up over time in the bodies of blacksmiths and other metal workers. Arsenic is popular in late-18th century wallpaper dyes to increase the pigment's brightness. Common paint and dye pigments containing arsenic in the 18th and 19th centuries include Scheele's Green , Paris Green and King's Yellow ( orpiment ). Prussian Blue - Delight of Artists & Poisoners Vermilion - Scarlet Pigment of Death White Lead Toxic Beauty, Art, Ancient Production yellow orpiment An account of the illness and 1821 death of Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile implicates arsenic poisoning from bright green wallpaper, a color he loves. Extreme levels of arsenic are found in the hair and nails of Napoleon and his family members. Humid conditions of their environment on the island of St. Helena increase the toxic effects. He dies of stomach cancer, commonly associated with arsenic poisoning as arsenic attacks the stomach. He's also thought to take a medicinal dose of mercury  the day before he dies. 5 Syphilis Treatments of European History Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Almadén Mines: Ancient Mercury Extraction "Napoleon as Caesar" marble bus Arsenic trioxide or white arsenic is an oxide of arsenic used in the making of Paris Green pigment. During the Victorian era, some ladies drink arsenic in vinegar to whiten their complexions. It's also used in wood preservation and as an insecticide. Natural causes of human exposure to arsenic include volcanic ash, weathering of ores and minerals, and mineralized groundwater. Arsenic is in food, water, soil, and air. Kermes Insect & Ancient Red Pigments Isabella Cortese: Renaissance Writer, Alchemist, Entrepreneur Mercury: Miracle Metal of Madness It exists in all plants, more concentrated in leafy vegetables, seafood, rice, apple and grape juice. Inhalation of atmospheric gas and dust is another possible source of exposure. In the early 20th century, Paul Ehrlich discovers an arsenic derivative to treat syphilis . For centuries syphilis ravages high and low classes alike. In the Victorian era, one in five people suffer from syphilis. Ehrlich's arsenic derivative is a miracle. It offers relief of the illness until penicillin, faster and more effective, becomes popular in the 1940s. 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Cultivation of apples goes back to the Middle Stone Age in central Asia. The wild ancestor of today's apples still grows in the region. Before the 14th century, the Proto-Germanic word for apple ( aplaz ), applies to all fruit. German Nature Folklore - Fruit Trees Honey Bees (Apidae): Nature & Myth Fairy Rings, Moon & Nature Magic Bushel basket of apples - the pick of the harvest Apples need to cross-pollinate to bear fruit, and insects such as honeybees  are well suited to the task. Apple blossom honey has a delicate sweet taste progressing to notes of spice. In early Germania farmers and orchard owners might also be beekeepers. Apple Mythology In Christianity, the apple symbolizes temptation and fall from grace as Eve, beguiled by the Devil disguised as a serpent, gives Adam a forbidden apple. A piece sticks in his throat, causing the familiar Adam's apple. The Lord is not amused and kicks them out of Paradise. Night Raven (Nachtkrapp) Germania White Ladies in German Mythology Stone Age Botai - First Horse People In Greek myth, the Earth goddess Gaia gives golden apples to Hera as a wedding gift. The apples are protected by Ladon, an enormous serpent. In some versions Ladon has 100 heads. Daughters of Atlas, the Hesperides, also guard the apples. The Eleventh Labor of Heracles (Hercules, Herakles) involves the theft of these apples. Depending on the version he slays the beast, subdues the daughters and runs off with the apples. Or, he holds the world on his shoulders while Atlas gets the apples for him. Wild Women and Winter Tales The Many Faces of Frau Holle Nature Spirits of German Mythology In Norse mythology, golden apples keep Odin and other deities eternally young. Goddess of eternal youth, Iðunn, keeps the apples in an ash wood box. In Norse myth apples are also connected to the Vanir, a subgroup of the Aesir, relating to fertility, wisdom and prophecy. In popular legend, Swiss archer Wilhelm (William) Tell is a peasant in the 13th century. Under duress from authorities he tries to shoot an apple from his son's head with an arrow and succeeds, becoming a national hero. Red Madder: Organic Ancient Colors Easter Bunny, Prussian Blue & Penguins Goats in German Myth: Erntebock & Habergeiß William Tell has to shoot an apple from his son's head In history William Burroughs is an American beat poet in 1951 AD. Under influence of alcohol he tries to shoot a cocktail glass from the head of his girlfriend with a pistol and kills her instantly. He gets a 2-year suspended sentence and goes to South Africa for drugs. In ancient Mediterranean mythology the apple tree is a symbol of love and happiness. The tree and its fruit are associated with Greek Aphrodite and Roman Venus. In secular art, the apple represents love and sexuality. Divine Twins: Germanic & Greek Mythology Women of the Wild Hunt: Holle, Diana, Frigg Shumugan - God of Donkeys & Mules Goddess Venus with Apple, Symbol of Love In Greek myth the apple is used with evil intent. Eris, Greek goddess of discord, starts legendary strife between three goddesses and the Trojan War when she throws down an apple labeled "To the fairest". Aphrodite bribes Paris of Troy into giving her the apple with a promise of hooking him up with Helen of Sparta, the most mortal woman in the world. He takes Helen to Troy and thus begins incites the famous war. In German folklore, apples   are linked to the ancient goddess Frau Holle (Hulda) . Frau Holle has various diverse aspects, one of them a domestic goddess. In the Germanic Frau Holle fairy tale , apples beg to picked from a tree, with different results. Herbology & Lore: Poison Hemlock The Wild Hunt - A Lora Ley Novella Woad, the People's Blue: Ancient Pigments Apples are sacred to Frau Holle. Here she shakes out her feather bedding to make it snow in the Alps. In an Irish folktale, prince Connla is infatuated with a fairy, who gives him an apple which regenerates when eaten. Connla dreams of her. She takes him to the otherworld, with magic apple trees bearing the fruit of eternal youth. He can have all he wants, but cannot return to the earthly realm. In a Druidic myth King Bran is likewise seduced to the otherworld by a beautiful fairy with a musical apple branch. Wandering Womb - Ancient Medicine Wine God Liber: Liberty & Liberal Libation Ornithomancy - Prophecy by the Birds She takes him to the otherworld Apple Magic & Spiritual Qualities The apple has been linked to witchcraft due to the five-point star shape of the seed pods when the apple's cut crossways. In mythology apples have rejuvenating powers. The fruit is a symbol of immortality. In folk medicine a thin apple slice on a wound or cut can speed healing. In potions and spell recipes the apple attunes to the attraction of love. The apple tree is feminine in nature. Apples and apple juice are favorites of elves , imps and other creatures of Faerie. Ancient Grains: Wheat, Barley, Millet, Rice German Myth & Folklore: Elves Khella - Ancient Health & Herbology Apple Fruit & Tree - Botanical Illustration Bedecked with pale fragrant blossoms in May, apple trees are brides of the season. Apple flowers are white to pink. Apple blossom petals are lucky to scatter at a wedding or romantic events as they symbolize harmony, happiness and love. Apple wood can be used in love spells, or to make a magic wand. It helps in the enhancement of talents and skills, or to open channels of visionary magic. Ninkasi: Beer Goddess Mesopotamia German Myth & Folklore: Imps Lora Ley Adventures - Feast of Fools Apple tree abundant with fragrant blossoms In aromatherapy, fragrance of apple or apple wood relates to revitalization, fertility, youthfulness, protection, harmony, abundance, love, romance, and fruitful relationships. Apple represents rural or rustic living and a connection to the natural and mystic world. Writers such as Clark Heinrich purport the mythological apple is a symbolic substitution for the psychoactive Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) mushroom. The apple's link to knowledge describes the visionary experience of some shamans and users of psychedelic mushrooms. Ephedra - Oldest Medical Stimulant Herb Egyptian Blue Lotus: Visionary Beauty German Folklore - Irrwurz or Mad Root Fly Agaric Mushroom Apple Natural Health Benefits Apple is considered one of the healthiest fruits. Phytochemicals and fiber in apples have antioxidant effects to protect a cell's DNA. Apples contain pectin, which may lower cholesterol. The pectin in apples as well as abundant dietary fibers can improve bowel function, slow gastric emptying and reduce absorption of glucose and cholesterol. Herbology & Lore: Caraway Honey Mead: Most Ancient Ambrosia Song of the Loreley - Lethal Attraction Natural Health Benefits of Apples The compound fisetin, found in apples, has been shown to have positive effects on memory, and for people with Alzheimer's. In natural health and beauty, extracts of apple smooth and soften skin for a more youthful look. With natural antioxidant properties, apples can repair and fortify skin against external stresses like weather and pollution, and strengthen hair and nails. The proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" originates in 19th century Wales. German Myth - Headless Horseman Lignans: Nature's Weapons of Defense Create Artisan Apple Cider Vinegar Apple Seed Poisoning Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which is a cyanogenic glycoside composed of cyanide and sugar. When amygdalin is reduced by enzymes released as the seeds are chewed, it turns into hydrogen cyanide (HCN). HCN is highly poisonous. 10 - 20 seeds are toxic to humans. The compound makes them taste awful. The taste is meant to dissuade over-zealous herbivores from chewing them. Unbroken, they pass through the animal's digestive tract to sprout in the fertile soil at the other end. Rhinestones: Treasures of the Rhine Victorian Health: Sea Water Hydrotherapy Elves & the Shoemaker - A Fairy Tale Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top

Prussic acid, widely known as hydrogen cyanide (HCN), has a rich history and unique properties as one of the most notorious compounds of the chemical world. From its discovery to modern applications, prussic acid has within it both potential and peril. Invisible World: Prokaryotes & Animalcules Great Advances in Chemistry 1600-1800 Jan Baptist van Helmont: Renaissance Medicine Cyanide in glass ampoule Discovery of Prussic Acid Hydrogen cyanide is first discovered in 1782 by the Swedish chemist Karl Wilhelm Scheele, who has a relentless interest in acids. Scheele isolates the compound by heating potassium ferrocyanide with sulfuric acid , which produces the lethal gas. Although Scheele is credited with its discovery, it the term "prussic acid" was officially adopted later. The name comes from " Prussian blue ," a pigment containing iron and cyanide anions. Before his discovery, people already recognize cyanide compounds in sources such as bitter almonds and certain plants. The average bitter almond contains 6 to 12% amygdalin. Amygdalin is a cyanogenic compound, producing hydrogen cyanide when metabolized. Lead White & Minium Red: Colors to Die For Lapis Lazuli: Vibrant Blue Gem of Ancients Nitric Acid: Aqua Fortis the Acid Queen Bitter Almonds Forms and Properties of Hydrogen Cyanide Hydrogen cyanide is a colorless, highly toxic liquid or gas at room temperature. In its pure form, it has a faint, bitter almond-like odor, which is distinctive yet not easily detectable by all individuals due to genetic factors. Physical Properties: Molecular Formula : HCN Boiling Point : 25.7 °C (78.3 °F) Density : 0.687 g/cm³ Solubility : Fully miscible with water, which can lead to significant risks in aquatic environments. Forms: Gas : At room temperature, hydrogen cyanide is typically gaseous, particularly in enclosed spaces. Liquid : At low temperatures, it can exist as a liquid and can be easily condensed under pressure. Water Solution : Hydrogen cyanide can also form solutions when dissolved in water, a state that can be particularly hazardous if ingested. Famous Women of Renaissance Alchemy The Microscope: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek Xanthan Gum & Plant Blight: Xanthomonas Campestris Occurrence in Nature While associated with artificial production and use, hydrogen cyanide does occur naturally in small quantities. The yellow-spotted millipede ( Harpaphe haydeniana ) or cyanide millipede of the Pacific Northwest and varieties in the Appalachians use cyanide in self-defense. Prussic acid is naturally present in various plants, although typically in small amounts. Many species produce cyanogenic compounds that remain non-toxic until the plant's cells are damaged. For example,: Bitter Almonds : These nuts can contain up to 2.5 mg of prussic acid per almond and must be properly processed to reduce toxicity levels. Peach Pits : Each pit can contain around 0.5 to 1 mg of cyanogenic glucosides, which convert to hydrogen cyanide. Cassava : This root vegetable can have anywhere from 10 to 100 mg of cyanide per kilogram if not processed correctly, underscoring the importance of proper preparation. Apricot Kernels: Boil for 30 minutes to remove cyanide. Even then avoid excess consumption. Sugar Beets, Altbier & First Newspaper German Traditions - Candy Canes Honey Mead: Most Ancient Ambrosia Apricots - kernels are used to treat hypertension, chronic inflammation, migraine. While these plants host inherent dangers, they also provide nutritional benefits when correctly handled, such as using bitter almonds in almond oil production, which eliminates harmful compounds. Historical and Modern Uses of Hydrogen Cyanide Historically, prussic acid has had a storied past, serving various applications primarily driven by its potent properties. Historical Uses: Pesticide : During the early 20th century, hydrogen cyanide was utilized as a fumigant for buildings, ships, and agricultural products, effective in exterminating pests and rodents. Gas Chamber Executions : During World War I, hydrogen cyanide emerges as a chemical weapon, causing severe casualties. Later, it's infamous as Zyklon B, widely known for its use in gas chambers during World War II. Rotten Egg Sulfur Smell: Microbial Processes Acetic Acid Bacteria for Vinegar Artisans: Acetobacter Arcanum Duplicatum: Double Secret of Alchemy Auschwitz Modern Uses: Chemical Synthesis : Today, hydrogen cyanide is predominantly used in the manufacture of certain synthetic fibers, plastics, and elastomers. It is a key precursor in the production of polyacrylonitrile, which is used for products like acrylic fibers and as a precursor for carbon fiber. Mining : It is also used in the gold mining industry to extract gold from ore through a cyanidation process. Historically, hydrogen cyanide has been linked to lethal applications. Hydrogen cyanide has also made its mark in photography and metal processing. In history it acts as a critical reducing agent in extraction of gold from ores, first used in the 19th century. Gold-Making of Maria: Tetrasomia Four Metals Democritus: Laughing Philosopher Ahead of His Time Sirius the Dog Star: Stellar Mythology Flakes of Gold Facts about Hydrogen Cyanide Lethal Dose : Hydrogen cyanide is highly toxic, and as little as 50 mg, or 0.5 to 3 mg/kg can be lethal to humans. Cyanide Antidotes : There are specific antidotes for hydrogen cyanide poisoning, including hydroxocobalamin, which binds to cyanide ions and facilitates their excretion. Industrial Safety : Due to its extreme toxicity, maintaining stringent safety protocols during the handling and transport of hydrogen cyanide is crucial in industries that utilize it. Biochemical Impact : Hydrogen cyanide can disrupt cellular respiration, blocking oxygen usage in cells, leading to rapid asphyxiation in high concentrations. Synthetic Preferences : Today, hydrogen cyanide is primarily produced synthetically, with modern methods yielding around 10 million tons globally each year to meet industrial and research demands. Odor Detection Variance : Interestingly, not all individuals can smell hydrogen cyanide. Genetic differences mean that some people may lack the ability to detect its almond-like scent, posing additional risks. Government Regulation : Hydrogen cyanide's toxicity makes it subject to strict regulations worldwide. Safety protocols are essential in any environment where it is used. Kermes Insect & Ancient Red Pigments Spagyria: Botanical Science of Alchemy Galls & Gall Nuts: Black Ink, Dye, Medicine Sylvia Rose Books Non-Fiction Books: World of Alchemy: Spiritual Alchemy World of Alchemy: A Little History Fiction Books: READ: Lora Ley Adventures  - Germanic Mythology Fiction Series READ: Reiker For Hire  - Victorian Detective Murder Mysteries Back to Top