Ein verschlüsseltes Buch aus dem Jahr 1798

Kommentare (5)

1. #1 Gert Brantner

   Berlin

   8. März 2022

   “die grünen Augenbrillen so man in Edelgestein arbeitet.” – es könnte sich um ein doppelbrechnugs- experiment handeln, oder je nach benutztem edelstein, um polarisation zu beobachten.

2. #2 Gert Brantner

   Berlin

   8. März 2022

   sorry, the link to the paper about alchemic catoprics only contains vol II, the appendices to vol I. where can we find this?

3. #3 Gert Brantner

   Berlin

   8. März 2022

   thinking of sapphire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birefringence

4. #4 Christof Rieber

   Wien

   10. März 2022

   “Das zweyte Silentium Dei” is one if not the alchimist’s bible:

   In its intro, the author – Johann von Arndt – mentions that this book is solely a translation/transcription of a different book: One that has been found next to Theophrastus Paracelsus’ feet – on his deathbed.

   Thus, we are talking not only about secret knowledge deriving from the 18th century (when still witches had been burned in the Rhineland as well as Swiss region) but even goint back further, to the year 1555!! One should be aware that this was some cruel age, when inquisition and ‘heresy’ had led to most cruel torture and death (e.g. by quartering, wheeling etc..).

   The previous explains why Paracelsus, in his text if so, had used terms such as the ‘almighty god’ even twice than rather once in a sentence – he was in obscure danger if anybody had found his book!

   Interestingly, the book is most likely the first “manual”: It describes some kind of ‘magic machine’ – the term magic was certainly not welcome during that time – how it is put on, what it can do, how it can be adjusted etc. Often, on important parts of the book, the term NB or Nota bene is used, hinting the reader to ‘write down’ or not forget those parts of the text. Another uncommon word: ‘Capelle’ meaning moreless a cup or a bowl.

   CONTENT:
   First of all, the book mentions the set-up of the machine, mainly consisting of three convex glasses in a row plus some bowls below. Aim of the machine is to use the sunlight (!) to focus on the glass bowls and therefore to CALCINATE (‘dry out’/purify) various materials. Interestingly, the manual is even considering the change of the set-up of the machine to reach different results/temperatures. Also, it covers a broad spectrum from flowers to minerals and even metals. It even explains how to make oil concentrates from herbs and describes a wide range of elements/chemicals such as Salpeter, Tin, Silver and others.

   Two notes regarding the book:

   It says that even Paracelsus had not developed all of it but that the knowledge itself (machine/working with metals) had come from nobody less than King Salomon. Also, that it is the “second” most secret of God, explaining the univers, thus might represent the earliest form of ‘Science’.

   Second, it even describes to use the machine on specific metals/minerals so it could produce gold. The description is vague but in fact goes into the direction that some mixture added to gold leads to such a high chemical purification that other (near-to-)metals can be fused and thus turn into gold, too. Imagine e.g. sapphire added to gold leading to a completely new material and adding tin to that resulting in gold again; sort of. It might be assumed that the recipe WHICH lesser metal should be used is still staying with King Salomon, though the description might still be passed down from the 10 century B.C.

   The book contains multiple ciphers, most of them contain a bit more detailled description / some parts of the book, however not much additional information:

   24: No A.B.C. zeigen die hohlgeschliffene glaeserne deren das erste in seiner Circumferenz M 6 oder 12 Zoll, das andere O 12 oder 14 und das dritte Q 18 oder 16 Zoll haelt wie dieselben in gleich weiter Distan[z] gestellt werden muessen auf das ein Focus den andern erreichen könne bis auf das [Z]entrum. Nb ‘D’ wo die [Mercur?] ist inn. Nb ‘E’ [?] Steig den [Spirit Mercur]ii. Nb ‘F’ ist eine glaeserne Kugel mit frischem gemeinen [Wasser] angefuellt. Nb ‘G’ say von eichenen oder andern garten Holz auf Satz stoecke. Nb ‘H’ Ist eine [..] Capelle. N[b] ‘I’ ist ein Zoll dicker Brenn oder Dreh Stock w[o] ein die Glaesen gestellt werden. Nb ‘K’ ist d[?] glaeserne offene Schaalen. Nb ‘L’ ist die St[o]ck wworauf die Schaale gestellt wird. Nb ‘M’ ist ein glaeserner [?] Nb ‘N’ das ist eine glaesern Capelle Nb ‘O’ ist das Glas mit denen Blumen. Nb ‘P’ ist das Glas so zu lit: b mus lutirt werden. Nb ‘Q’ ist der Stoepssel. Nb ‘R’ ist das runde Glas mit kleinen Löchlein, gehören zu lit. a Nb ‘S’ Renien[?] seyn die grünen Augen-Brillen so man in edel-gestein arbeitet.
   25: die [Wasser] Kugel noch, NB diese Kugel
   29: einen breiten glatten Reibe oder Marmor Stein
   31: einer Capellen
   32: glaessernen Capellen
   43: einen glaessernen Schale (..) gemeinen
   45: einen solchen glass Schaalen
   53: rein ausgelassenen nitrum (..) glas-Schaale (..) der Salpeter nachtnach
   54: ein wenig [d]iger.e Hitze (..) naeher zu unsern magischen Feuer (..) nach und nach einkoche (..) einen hochroten Pulver (..)
   gelben
   55: dieses Pulvers
   60: rotiere das Glass n[o]ch unten
   61: noch (..) die [o]ffenen glas Schaalen
   62: offene glas Schaalen
   70: einen weiten und (st)arken glaesernen Tiegel zur Zeit ihrer Regierung und eigenen Planeten Stunde
   75: wie grossen die vorgebildete Brenn=glaesser sein die bessere Gewalt haben sie einige raschen zu enden; aber zu unsern hier beschriebenen Wercken seyn sie mit M.O. und Q Zollen, endlich bisst 7 Zollen gross genung (..) da sollst das groesste Glas vornen gegen de? [Sonn]ne [st]ehend machen (..) eine Fuge (..) wende deine Maschine um, dass das kleinste Glass gegen der [Sonn]ne zu stehe (..) Maschine mit dem [spirit]tu Mercurii
   76: so ziehe endweder [d]ie Maschine oder deine vorgesetzte Materiam etwas weiteres von einander, oder setze eine grosse mit frischen [Wasser] angefuellte glaeserne Kugel darzwischen (..) auf die Materie werffe

   The book itself is a good read but not so easy to do so. At least, Johann von Arndt made it possible for us to read it at all (guess Paracelsus had written it in Latin?); even if he deciphered little parts of it into what he similarily called Rosecrucian language that speaks ’72 languages and tongues’. No doubt we deal with Paracelsus’ knowledge here, if not King Salomons.

   The most exciting manual ever and even easier to read than the one of my coffee machine.

   Additional read:
   https://era.ed.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1842/31017/Ashrowan2016Appendices.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y
   (p69/81)

5. #5 Christof Rieber

   Wien

   10. März 2022

   ad 1:
   The date 1555 referred to the witch hunting era but had Paracelsus died earlier (1541).

   ad 2:
   The methods described by Paracelsus/Arndt included the calzination of liquid mercury (producing “mercury spirit”). He also described the purification of gold, silver and other material (“amalgamation”). Finally, the magic machine was also capable to produce oils and alcolohl (“distillery”).

   ad 3:
   Paracelsus’ bones contained a 100times higher values of mercury in it. He most likely died from this mercury poisoning as a result of his experiments/treatments.