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+--- Thread: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS (/thread-1745.html)
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - bi3mw - 10-09-2017
(04-09-2017, 08:20 PM)Searcher Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.... Actually, many comparisons lead me to the "Philosophia reformata" emblems of Mylius ...
To understand your reference to Mylius and Maier, did you come to this path because of Daniel Stolcius von Stolcenberg ? I was surprised by the similarity of the illustrations in Stolcenberg's "You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view." and "Philosophia reformata". In fact, Von Stolcenberg used the work of both authors.
An example (Philosophia Reformata / Chymische Lustgärtlein):
![[Image: comp_Philosophia_Lustgaertlein_.png]](http://wwwhomes.uni-bielefeld.de/mwille2/VMS/comp_Philosophia_Lustgaertlein_.png)
By the way, Von Stolcenberg's publisher Lucas Jennis is quite an interesting person. His list of authors includes many contemporary alchemists. - It was assumed that he was a member of the Rosicrucians.
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - -JKP- - 10-09-2017
I should also have mentioned that there are spiral motifs on volvelles to calculate the phases of the moon, but they were mostly later in the 15th century, whereas the spiral suns were earlier.
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - bi3mw - 18-09-2017
The same author of the above-mentioned "Liber de arte distillandi de compositis" has also written another book:
Liber de arte distillandi de simplicibus ( May 1500 ), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
The linked page shows a brief reference to a distillate named "water from goat's blood" ( upper left ). Interestingly, the text appears between many distillates from plants. - At the end of the text, I would read (ger.) "... das grien in den lenden und in der blasen.". Then "urinary gravel" is meant. Is this acceptable or does someone know a different interpretation ?
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - -JKP- - 20-09-2017
Pliny referred to cinnabar as a rock that continually sweated mercury.
So mercury is often depicted in the alchemical manuscripts as droplets, which are the sweat that oozes from the ore (as well as the distillation into vapor), and the little cubes or rocks may have represented the crushed cinnabar from which the mercury was harvested (it took me longer to figure out the significance of the little cubelets, but I think it probably represents the source of the mercury, or mercury in its "raw" unprocessed cinnabaric form).
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - bi3mw - 24-09-2017
Just to be sure, which cubelets do you mean ?
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - -JKP- - 24-09-2017
(24-09-2017, 10:35 AM)bi3mw Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.Just to be sure, which cubelets do you mean ?
![[Image: StoneMercuryMaier1617.jpg]](http://voynichportal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/StoneMercuryMaier1617.jpg)
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - bi3mw - 24-09-2017
The "cubes" shown on the illustration actually represent alchemical stones.
Maier, Michael, Chymisches Cabinet, derer grossen Geheimnussen der Natur, Frankfurt, 1708, You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Non-literal translation:
The Thirty-sixth Symbol of the Secret of Nature.
The stone has been thrown to the ground and placed on the mountains. /
[ He ] lives in the air and feeds himself in the water. / This is Mercury.
< The illustration is shown here. >
Thirty-sixth headline
[ from the } first work of the wise, various ones can be collected /
in the stone and on the way / even in excrements
on the top of the mountain / and that the true being
also has air / water / close [ to ] the crowd of artists
hence each is to be viewed naturally /
but first of all, the mountain must be highly respected.
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - -JKP- - 24-09-2017
(24-09-2017, 07:20 PM)bi3mw Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.The "cubes" shown on the illustration actually represent alchemical stones.
Maier, Michael, Chymisches Cabinet, derer grossen Geheimnussen der Natur, Frankfurt, 1708, You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Non-literal translation:
The Thirty-sixth Symbol of the Secret of Nature.
The stone has been thrown to the ground and placed on the mountains. /
[ He ] lives in the air and feeds himself in the water. / This is Mercury.
< The illustration is shown here. >
Thirty-sixth headline
[ from the } first work of the wise, various ones can be collected /
in the stone and on the way / even in excrements
on the top of the mountain / and that the true being
also has air / water / close [ to ] the crowd of artists
hence each is to be viewed naturally /
but first of all, the mountain must be highly respected.
But isn't cinnabar considered the primary alchemical stone, the stone from which mercury is extracted? It expressly mentions Mercury and cinnabar is ground into smaller stones so the mercury will more readily sweat from it.
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - Paris - 24-09-2017
That's right : these cubes symbolize the philosopher's stones.
Cinnabar = HgS = Mercury (Hg) and Sulfur.
In fact, there are also impurities.
The river we see in the back is a river of mercury.
The philosopher's stone needs mercury (the metal), sulfer and a third element (salt - not the common salt).
Many alchemist designate mercury and sulfur as primary (materia prima).
RE: Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS - bi3mw - 24-09-2017
(24-09-2017, 09:21 PM)Paris Wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view....
Many alchemist designate mercury and sulfur as primary (materia prima).
Exactly, see page 108:
![[Image: mercurius.png]](http://wwwhomes.uni-bielefeld.de/mwille2/VMS/mercurius.png)
Non-literal translation:
On these mountains there is an everlasting fire that sublimes the stone and raise it [ him ] to the highest dignity. In this mountains it [ he ] grows quite raw from Sulfur and living Mercurio.
Note: "Stone" is masculine in German