German Theatrum Chemicum

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The Deutsche Theatrum Chemicum is a collection of alchemical texts mainly in German translation, which was published in three volumes by the publisher, printer and bibliographer Friedrich Roth-Scholtz (1687–1736) in Nuremberg (Verlag Felßecker) (1728, 1730, 1732).

It follows earlier collections such as Theatrum Chemicum from the 17th century and Bibliotheca Chemica Curiosa (Geneva 1702), which, however, in contrast to this collection, contain Latin texts. The text selection is also very different. Roth-Scholtz wants above all to present and entertain philosophical contexts and, as he puts it, lets the writings act on the reader one after the other like actors in the theater. The scriptures also include curiosities such as legal information as to which spouse the silver tableware that has been converted into gold by transmutation belongs to. This also makes it clear that it is aimed at a broader, middle-class readership than its predecessor editions, written in Latin and aimed at scholars.

John Ferguson praises the fact that introductions and biographical information are printed there with otherwise inaccessible material, e. B. Research by Georg Wolfgang Wedel about Basilius Valentinus . The book contains illustrations, such as a portrait by the editor Roth-Scholtz.

In the last volume Roth-Scholtz writes that he had almost finished preparing a fourth volume. This never appeared. A second edition appeared in Frankfurt and Leipzig from 1767 to 1772.

content

The full title is: Deutsches theatrum chemicum, on which of the most famous philosophers and alchemists writings about the philosopher's stone, about the transformation of bad metals into better ones, about herbs, animals, health and sour fountains, and warm baths , of wonderful artzneyen and of other great secrets of nature, which up to now either have never been printed or have otherwise been very rare, are presented by Friederich Roth-Scholtzen

part 1

  • Yo. Francisci Buddei ( Johann Franz Buddeus ): Investigation of Alchemy (p. 1–146)
  • Georg Philipp Nenter's report on alchemy (pp. 147–218);
  • Wilhelm von Schröder : Wilhelm Greyherr von Schrödern's lessons in gold making (pp. 219–288)
  • Faithful warning admonition to all lovers of nature-measured alchemy (p. 289-312)
  • Leonhard Müllner's thorough report on the generation and birth of metals (pp. 313–330)
  • Report on the generation and regeneration of metals (pp. 331–358)
  • Josaphat Friederich Hautnortons, or Johann Harprechts, third beginning of the mineral things from Philosophical Saltz (p. 339–390)
  • Chrys du Puris, Pontic or Mercurial waters of the wise (p. 391–415)
  • Eugenii Phialethae ( Eugenius Philalethes ), Euphrates, or the waters from the beginning (pp. 415–480)
  • Johann Friedrich Schweitzer (Helvetius): Jo. Friederich Helvetii, golden calf (p. 481–556)
  • Joh. Pordaesche ( John Pordage , 1607–1681), Philosophical letter of the stone of wisdom (pp. 557–596)
  • Johannes de Monte Raphaim (a pseudonym), preface of the dawn breaking out in the philosophical sky (pp. 597–638)
  • Register (pp. 638–651)
  • Fr. Basilii Valentini ( Basilius Valentinus ), Triumphal Chariot of Antimonii, with notes from Theodori Kerckringii. Deme still in front: Mr. D. Georg Wolfg. Wedels , famous Professoris zu Jena, Anno 1704 in a program by Basilio Valentino given message and commentation (pp. 654–668: preface by Friedrich Roth-Scholtz)

Volume 2

The volume is dedicated to the art patron Franz Anton von Sporck .

  • Bened. Nicolai Petraei, Critique on the Alchemical Writings (pp. 1–86)
  • Concerned about the question of whether the Transmutatio Metallorum is possible? (Pp. 87–113)
  • Responsum of a famous jurist faculty: since a husband lets himself be instructed: whether the silver vessels that his wives transmuted in gold do not belong to him? Or at least the usus fructus of it? (Pp. 113–118)
  • ( Julius Sperber ) Isagogue, d. i. Introduction to the true understanding of the three-one God and nature. Which also contains many excellent things of the Materia of the Philosophical Stone (pp. 119–196)
  • Pantaleonis ( Franz Gassmann ), Tumulus Hermetis Apertus; or: the opened Hermetic Grave (p. 197–258)
  • Pantaleonis Examen Alchymisticum, or: Alchymistic Examination (pp. 259–312)
  • Pantaleonis Bifolium Metallicum, that is: Metallisches Zweyblat (p. 313-380)
  • Joel Langelotts , Send-Brief von der Chymie; including the Philosophical Mill engraved in Kupffer (pp. 381–406)
  • Johann Heinrich Rudolffs, Amalgamation Lessons (pp. 409–430)
  • Johann Heinrich Rudolffs, Extra-Ordinair Bergwerck, through amalgamation with mercury (p. 431–498)
  • Johannis Garlandii, see Hortulani , Compendium Alchimæ, or explanation of the emerald tablet Hermetis Trismegisti (p. 499-530)
  • Tabula Smaragdina Hermetis (pp. 531–532)
  • Arnaldus de Villanova : M. Arnoldi de Villanova, Declaration on the Commentarium Hortulani (pp. 533-550)
  • Send letter from the excellence of the Chymische Schrifften Petri Joh. Fabri (p. 551–566)
  • Bartholomäi Korndorffer's description of the precious stones (pp. 567–619)
  • Johann Joachim Becher : D. Joh. Joachim Bechers Oedipus Chymicus, or Chymischer Rätseldeuter (p. 619–822)
  • Jean D'Espagnet : Joannes d´Espagnets secret work of the hermetic philosophy (p. 823–912)

Volume 3

The volume mainly contains texts by Roger Bacon (or those that are ascribed to him here) and Roth-Scholtz addresses this and John Dee in prefaces .

  • Rogerii Baconis, Chymisch- und Philosophische Schrifften, some of which were never printed in the German language; it was translated from English for the first time; Preface by Friedrich Roth-Scholtzen (pp. 1–22)
  • Rogerii Baconis, Radix Mundi or Wurtzel der Welt. Translated from the English by William Salmon (pp. 23–72)
  • Rogerii Baconis, Medulla Alchemiæ, in which the philosopher's stone and the most noble tinctures of gold, vitriol and antimony, are traded (pp. 73-102)
  • Rogerii Baconis, Tractat vom Golde, or thorough report of the preparation of the Philosophical Stone as it is made of gold (pp. 103–128)
  • Rogerii Baconis, Mirror of Alchemy (pp. 105–179)
  • Rogeri Baconis, treatise on the tincture and oil of vitriol, which he communicates to his beloved brother Wilhelmo as a noble, delicious, and most certain secretum and medicine of people and metals (p. 180-203)
  • Rogeri Baconis, treatise on the tincture and oil of Antimonii, on the true and right preparation of the skewer glass to heal human weaknesses and diseases and to improve the imperfect metals (pp. 205–226)
  • Epistle or send letter of the Kayser Alexandri, who first ruled Greece and Macedonia, was also a Kayser of the Persians: In it, the Philosopher's Stone is explained very funny and well described by a parable and parable (pp. 227-244)
  • Rogerii Baconis, send-letter of secret snatches of art and nature, and of the nullity of false magics (p. 246–286)
  • Epistola de Secretis operibus artis & naturæ, & de nullitate Magiæ. Opera Johannis Dee , è pluribus exemplaribus castigata olim (pp. 287–348)
  • Responsum ad Fratres Rosaceæ Crucis illustris (pp. 349–356)
  • Gloria Mundi, otherwise Paradeiß table: that is: Description of the ancient science that Adam learned from God himself, Noa, Abraham, and Solomon, used as one of the highest gifts of God (p. 357-510)
  • Another treatise with the same content as the previous one (pp. 511–537)
  • Alethophili Philosophical consideration of the transformation of metals. Translated from Latin into German (pp. 537–560)
  • Warning preface against the fraudsters, which an anonymous A. 1670 and A. 1691 in Hamburg des Johannis Ticinensis, Anthonii de Abbatia and Edovardi Kellæi Chymischen Schriften (pp. 561–606)
  • Johannis Ticinensis, a Bohemian priest, Chymische Schrifften; or Process of the Philosopher's Stone (pp. 607–650)
  • Anthonii Abbatia, a priest experienced in the philosophical art, completed a send letter from the philosopher's stone and from the transformation of metals. Translated from Latin into German (pp. 651–680)
  • Reverendissimi Archipresbyteri Magistri Anthonii de Abbatia Epistolæ duæ (…) (pp. 681–732)
  • Edward Kelley : Edovradi Kellæi, Book of the Philosopher's Stone. To the Roman emperor Rudolphum II. ANNO MDXCVI. Written in Latin; Subsequently translated into German (pp. 733–798)
  • Fragmenta quædam Edov. Kellæi ex ipsius Epistolis excerpta (pp. 799–800)
  • Edovardi Kellæi, Via Humida, sive Discursus de Menstruo Vegetabili Saturni (pp. 801–854)
  • ( Thomas Vaughan ) Aula Lucis, ider: Das Hauß des Lichts, described by SN * * * in English, and translated into German in 1690 by Johann Langen / MC (pp. 855–892).

Web links

References and comments

  1. ↑ Bibliotheca Chemica, Glasgow 1906, Volume 2, p. 299. There also table of contents.
  2. ^ Doctor in Strasbourg, died 1721. From Gelnhausen. Published medical works such as Theoria hominis sani (1714), CERL .
  3. ↑ Josaphat Friedrich skin Norton. Also Johann Harprecht, Filii Sendivogii (son of Sendivogius), because he follows his doctrine of the philosophical salt , born around 1610, perhaps from Erfurt, worked 1650–1663
  4. ^ Benedikt Nikolaus Petraeus, doctor, author of a preface to an edition of the writings of Basilius Valentinus (Basilius Innovatus, Hamburg 1717)
  5. ^ In Ferguson's Bibliotheca Chemica , Volume 2, p. 301, it only says that this was probably the teacher of Johann Christian Orschall in Dresden.
  6. ↑ Bartholomäus Korndörffer is described by Karl Christoph Schmieder , Geschichte der Alchemie, Halle 1832, p. 268, as a traveling alchemist from the middle of the 16th century. According to Schmieder, he sold alchemical recipes, which were printed, for example, in the Aureum Vellum (Golden Fleece) by Salomon Trismosin, printed in 1598, and in a book in Helmstadt in 1677.
  7. ^ Alethophilus, pseudonym of a stranger. In 1705 wrote a reply to Mercenary Teutsches Pegfeuer der Scheidekunst (1702), Ferguson, Bibliotheca, Chemica, Volume 1, p. 23.
  8. ^ Antonius von Abbatia, according to Schmieder (History of Alchemy, p. 184) an Italian monk, whom he classifies in the 14th century. The name Abbatia simply refers to an abbey. The tract was published in German in Hamburg in 1670 with that of Johannis Ticinensis (Johann von Tetzen) and Kelley, with new editions in 1672 and 1691.