Section outline

  • Week XI (November 10)  Alchemy

    Topics:

    ·      alchemy and cosmology

    ·      mechanics of alchemy

    ·      alchemy and science

     

    Greek Readings: Leyden and Stockholm Papyri (selections); Zosimus, On Excellence, The Work; Hermetica: Stob. Herm. 26.13, 28-29; Isis to Her Son Horus

     

    Readings:

    ·      Alchemy Readings

    ·      Zosimus, On Excellence

    ·      Zosimus On the Letter Omega

    ·      Ogden 46

    ·      PGM XII 193-201

     

    ·      Edmonds, Drawing Down the Moon, ch. 9

    ·      Dufault, Lessons from the Body: Alchemy and Spiritual Exercises

    ·      Martelli, The Alchemical Art of Dyeing

    ·      Stolzenberg, Unpropitious Tinctures

    ·      Taylor, A Survey of Greek Alchemy

     

    Supplementary Readings:

    ·      Ps. Democritus Physika & Mystika

    ·      Synesius to Dioscorus on Democritus

    ·      Caley, The Leyden Papyrus X

    ·      Caley, The Stockholm Papyrus

     

    ·      Grimes, Secrets of the God Makers: Re-Thinking the Origins of Greco-Egyptian Alchemy

    ·      Hershbell, Democritus and The Beginnings of Greek Alchemy

    ·      Jung, Visions of Zosimus

    ·      Martelli, Greek Alchemists at Work

    ·      Principe, Some Problems with the Historiography of Alchemy