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Azoth was believed to be the essential agent of transformation in alchemy. It is the name given by ancient alchemists to mercury, which they believed to be the animating spirit hidden in all matter that makes transmutation possible. The word comes from the Arabic al-zā'būq which means "mercury".
The astrological symbol for the planet became one of the alchemical symbols for the metal, and Mercury became an alternative name for the metal. Mercury is the only metal for which the alchemical planetary name survives, as it was decided it was preferable to quicksilver as a chemical name. [30] [31]
Azoth – initially this referred to a supposed universal solvent but later became another name for Mercury. Bitumen – highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. Blende; Brimstone – sulfur; Flowers of sulfur – formed by distilling sulfur. Caustic potash/caustic wood alkali – potassium hydroxide, formed by adding lime to potash.
The tradition remains today with the name of the element mercury, where chemists decided the planetary name was preferable to common names like "quicksilver", and in a few archaic terms such as lunar caustic (silver nitrate) and saturnism (lead poisoning). [4] [5] Lead, corresponding with Saturn ♄ Tin, corresponding with Jupiter ♃ ()
The name of the metal was first documented in the 16th century, [40] [41] and is probably derived from the German zinke for the needle-like appearance of metallic crystals. [42] Alchemical symbol for the element zinc. The isolation of metallic zinc in the West may have been achieved independently by several people in the 17th century. [43]
The origins of the planetary symbols can be found in the attributes given to classical deities. The Roman planisphere of Bianchini (2nd century, currently in the Louvre, inv. Ma 540) [2] shows the seven planets represented by portraits of the seven corresponding gods, each a bust with a halo and an iconic object or dress, as follows: Mercury has a caduceus and a winged cap; Venus has a ...
Gold and mercury were often used by alchemists (including Brahe) in medicines, and it was common for alchemists to link the Earth’s elements to properties in space and the human body. And there ...
The first alchemist whose name we know was Mary the Jewess (c. 200 A.D.). [118] Early sources claim that Mary (or Maria) devised a number of improvements to alchemical equipment and tools as well as novel techniques in chemistry. [118] Her best known advances were in heating and distillation processes.