Book ID: CBB920592519

L’alchimista antico. Dall’Egitto greco-romano a Bisanzio (2019)

unapi

Martelli, Matteo (Author)


Editrice Bibliografica


Publication Date: 2019
Physical Details: 184 pp.
Language: Italian

Un intricato complesso di arti, pratiche di tintura e teorie della materia costituisce il nucleo della scienza alchemica, che si sviluppò attraverso una storia millenaria prima di trasformarsi nella chimica moderna. Arte spesso associata al Medioevo, l’alchimia ha in realtà origini molto più antiche, che affondano le proprie radici nell’Egitto greco-romano e nelle terre tra Bisanzio e Bagdad. Il volume ripercorre questa storia nei secoli che precedono la ricezione e lo sviluppo dell’alchimia nell’Occidente latino. Le principali fonti sono qui studiate assieme alle più importanti figure di alchimisti: dal mago persiano Ostane alle divinità egizia Iside, dalla sapiente Maria l’Ebrea al filosofo greco Democrito, da Cleopatra e i sacerdoti dei templi egiziani a imperatori e dotti bizantini. L’alchimia antica è così indagata nei contesti sociali e culturali che ne determinarono la nascita, insistendo sui rapporti con discipline affini, come medicina e filosofia naturale. Specifiche sezioni del libro illustrano le tecniche e gli strumenti con cui gli alchimisti antichi tentarono di estrarre “spiriti” minerali, distillare acque coloranti, trasformare metalli vili in oro o produrre pietre preziose artificiali. [Abstract translated by Google Translate: This is the abstract in English… An intricate complex of arts, dyeing practices and theories of matter constitutes the nucleus of alchemical science, which developed through a millennial history before turning into modern chemistry. Art often associated with the Middle Ages, alchemy actually has much older origins, which have their roots in Greco-Roman Egypt and in the lands between Byzantium and Baghdad. The volume traces this history in the centuries preceding the reception and development of alchemy in the Latin West. The main sources are studied here along with the most important figures of alchemists: from the Persian magician Ostane to the Egyptian deities Isis, from the wise Mary the Jewess to the Greek philosopher Democritus, from Cleopatra and the priests of Egyptian temples to Byzantine emperors and scholars. Ancient alchemy is thus investigated in the social and cultural contexts that determined its birth, insisting on relations with related disciplines, such as medicine and natural philosophy. Specific sections of the book illustrate the techniques and tools with which ancient alchemists attempted to extract mineral "spirits", distil coloring waters, transform base metals into gold or produce artificial precious stones.]

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Authors & Contributors
Grimm-Stadelmann, Isabel
Zanforlini, Chiara
Roberts, Alexandre M.
Käs, Fabian
Bevilacqua, Gabriella
Bernabò, Massimo
Concepts
Medicine
Alchemy
Natural philosophy
Byzantine Empire
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Ancient
Medieval
2nd century
5th century
Early modern
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