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Philosopher's stone. The Alchymist, in Search of the Philosopher's Stone by Joseph Wright of Derby, 1771. The philosopher's stone[a] is a mythic alchemical substance capable of turning base metals such as mercury into gold or silver [b]; it was also known as "the tincture" and "the powder". Alchemists additionally believed that it could be used ...
Magnum opus (alchemy) In alchemy, the Magnum Opus or Great Work is a term for the process of working with the prima materia to create the philosopher's stone. It has been used to describe personal and spiritual transmutation in the Hermetic tradition, attached to laboratory processes and chemical color changes, used as a model for the ...
Perenelle Flamel (m. 1368; died 1397) Nicolas Flamel (French: [nikɔla flamɛl]; c. 1330 – 22 March 1418) [1] was a French scrivener and manuscript seller. After his death, Flamel developed a reputation as an alchemist believed to have created and discovered the philosopher's stone and to have thereby achieved immortality.
The cubes represent prima materia. In alchemy and philosophy, prima materia, materia prima or first matter (for a philosophical exposition refer to: Prime Matter), is the ubiquitous starting material required for the alchemical magnum opus and the creation of the philosopher's stone. It is the primitive formless base of all matter similar to ...
The philosopher's stone of European alchemists can be compared to the Grand Elixir of Immortality sought by Chinese alchemists. In the hermetic view, these two goals were not unconnected, and the philosopher's stone was often equated with the universal panacea; therefore, the two traditions may have had more in common than initially appears.
In European alchemical tradition, the elixir of life is closely related to the creation of the philosopher's stone. According to legend, certain alchemists have gained a reputation as creators of the elixir. These include Nicolas Flamel and St. Germain. A work by Michael Scot speaks of gold as an elixir of life. [7]
Diana's Tree ( Latin: Arbor Diana or Dianae ), also known as the Philosopher's Tree ( Arbor Philosophorum ), was considered a precursor to the philosopher's stone and resembled coral in regards to its structure. [ 1] It is a dendritic amalgam of crystallized silver, obtained from mercury in a solution of silver nitrate; so-called by the ...
But the book's first printing was very small—only about 500 copies—and had the title Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Because of the name change, the series' eventual popularity, and ...