Alchemy, with its promises of transmuting base metals into gold and discovering the elixir of life, has fascinated and confounded scholars and seekers alike. Behind its veiled curtains lies a realm of esoteric knowledge, mystical symbolism, and clandestine experiments that have sparked countless theories and legends. Join Sydney and Sara as we explore the shadows of history where alchemists toiled in obscurity, pursued by rumors of arcane rituals and hidden agendas. From ancient Egypt's alchemical roots to the Renaissance courts of Europe, and even to the laboratories of modern science, the allure of alchemy persists, shrouded in conspiracy and intrigue.
Sources for this episode:"The Alchemists: The Search for the Philosopher's Stone" (2007)
"The Science of Alchemy" (2011) - part of the Secrets of the Occult series
"The Perennial Journey: Alchemy's Art and Science" (2012)
The Alchemy Website (http://www.levity.com/alchemy/)
The Digital Alchemy Collection at the Getty Research Institute (https://www.getty.edu/research/special_collections/notable/alchemy.html)
The Internet Sacred Text Archive (https://www.sacred-texts.com/alc/)
Journal of the History of Ideas
Ambix: The Journal of the Society for the History of Alchemy and Chemistry
Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism
"Alchemy: The Philosophers' Stone" by Lawrence M. Principe (article in Chemical Heritage Magazine)
"The Golden Game: Alchemical Engravings of the Seventeenth Century" by Stanislas Klossowski de Rola
"The Alchemy of Happiness" by Imam Al-Ghazzali
"Alchemy & Mysticism" by Alexander Roob
"The Secret Teachings of All Ages" by Manly P. Hall
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