Alchemy is today’s new print! I discussed the subject a little bit earlier, but it’s a rich topic worthy of further exploration.
The first fascinating thing about alchemy is the word itself. The Ancient Egyptian word “Khem” (you can find many variations on that spelling) is likely the earliest basis for the word alchemy. “Khem” refers generally to the color black. More specifically, it points to the black soil crucial to Egypt’s civilization, rich and super-fertile due to the Nile’s yearly flooding. So, the Ancient Egyptians called their own land “Khemet,” which literally means “land of the black earth.” In contrast, the surrounding desert areas were referred to as the “red land.”
During ancient times the Egyptians were already renowned and admired for their high knowledge (that Great Pyramid is pretty fancy, no?), and many other civilizations sought to attain this level of knowledge. Egyptian mystery schools were attended by many Greek ‘greats’ (ex: Plato & Pythagoras). The Greeks referred to the body of Ancient Egyptian writings and knowledge as “Khemeioa”. Likewise, the nearby Arabic civilizations needed create a vocabulary to discuss Ancient Egypt’s high knowledge, and they were responsible for adding the prefix “al-” (definite article “the”). So that leaves us with a word something like “Al-Khem” or “Al-Khemoia”–not a far cry from the modern word “ALCHEMY“.
The etymology of the word alchemy serves as a road map for comprehending how the scientific, philosophical and spiritual studies of the Egyptians dispersed through ancient and early civilizations. The word Alchemy was later re-introduced in name and practice to Europeans of the early Middle Ages (with some spelling variations). Even in our modern, ultra-scientific times, the word and practice of “Alchemy” still persists, forming the basis of modern day “Chemistry” (khem-istry)!
And finally, did you know that modern science’s most beloved Isaac Newton was one of the greatest latter day alchemists?
“The changing of bodies into light and light into bodies, is very comfortable to the course of nature, which seems delighted with transmutations.” Opticks, Sir Isaac Newton
Yay!
Don’t forget to check out all the new prints in the Seed Stone collection.
Referenced: Online Etymology Dictionary, Wikipedia Etymology of Chemistry, Wikipedia Chemistry, Wikipedia History of Alchemy, The Alchemy Website, Wikipedia Isaac Newton’s Occult Studies, The Great Art, & Stolen Legacy.
