The dream of turning metal into gold is one that has obsessed man for centuries. The name of this mythical process is ‘alchemy’ and it’s a word that inspires thoughts of medieval magic and the dark arts. To quote the scientist and scholar Lawrence Principe in his seminal work The Secrets of Alchemy: “The very word conjures up vivid images of the hidden, the mysterious and the arcane, of dark laboratories and wizard-like figures bent over glowing fires and bubbling cauldrons.” Yet from the ancient world through to the medieval period and into the 20th century alchemy was a very real art, practised the world over. So much more than simply being another quest for gold, it was a complex form of speculative thought that also held promises of eternal youth. The history of alchemy is complex, blurring the lines between chemistry, esoteric ramblings and bizarre philosophy. Here we hope to offer a tantalising glimpse into another realm, digging beneath the surface to unearth at least a few of its secrets. We’ll reveal the mystery of the Philosopher’s Stone, explain the scientific impact of this ancient art and explore the life of the real Nicolas Flamel, among other wonders.
Alchemy is best known as a form of medieval chemical science and speculative philosophy. Its origins, however, both real and imagined, are far older than that. Traditional histories of alchemy state that the art began in Egypt, in line with the ancient Greek belief of Egypt as land of magic and secrets; this
