The birth of chemistry / by G.F. Rodwell.

George Farrer Rodwell

Date:: 1874

Credit: The birth of chemistry / by G.F. Rodwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

87/156 page 71

$Zozimus and to the fifth century ; a MS. which, from its frequent mention in both ancient and modern works on the history of chemistry, possesses special interest. It is entitled “ Zozimus on Chemical In- struments and Furnaces, and on the Holy Water” {Zwaijjiov Trepl op-^dvuv Kal Kap-lvav Kal irepl rov Oeiov vSuTo<i), and it is a well-preserved MS. of the thir- teenth century, written on vellum. The few drawings which it contains are asserted to have been taken by the author from a temple at Memphis. The Alembic (d in the accompanying woodcut, Fig. 8) is copied from this MS., in which also the line of symbols (<?) is found. These symbols occurred in almost every Greek MS. on alchemy which we examined; we could find no clue to the curious porcupine-like animal. The symbol c is clearly of astronomical origin, and is not often met with in later works. The MSS. are for the most part devoid of figures, and not so full of symbols as later alchemical treatises. QZ Fig. 8.—An Alembic, and Symbols from Gieek MSS. on Alchemy.$

The birth of chemistry / by G.F. Rodwell.

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