Alchemical Symbolism in the VMS

[MarcoP]

I guess that Apollo is at the center because the planet it represents (the Sun) corresponds to gold, which in turn is a symbol of the ultimate goal of alchemy.

Above the ground (on the basis of the text that Searcher translated) one sees the combination of opposite "fluid" elements (a kind of "conjunctio") to produce what could be the alchemical "elixir" - another symbol of the goal of alchemy. 

The two central figures can so illustrate the concept 'as above so below':

* Above: light, female, fluid
* Below: dark, male, solid (metal)

The four elements are illustrated in the corners. The meaning of the well is unclear to me ("aqua vitae" again?).

I am not aware of anything comparable in earlier alchemical works.