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Alchemy, an ancient and mysterious discipline, has intrigued minds for centuries. Alchemists sought to unlock the deepest secrets of the universe, striving for everything from the creation of gold to immortality. Though alchemy is now regarded as a futile quest for unattainable goals, the discoveries and techniques of alchemists laid the foundation for modern chemistry, with many of their methods still in use today. Nevertheless, some of their experiments led to truly bizarre outcomes.
Here are ten of the most peculiar aspects of alchemy and the alchemists behind them.
10. John Damian Takes Flight
Alchemists were among the most brilliant minds of their time, driven by an insatiable curiosity to understand the world. However, their unrelenting pursuit of knowledge sometimes led them to attempt the unthinkable. John Damian de Falcuis, an Italian physician and alchemist, persuaded the King of Scotland to sponsor his research. A vast supply of alchemical materials was provided at great expense, all in hopes of discovering a method to produce gold. Though he failed in this endeavor, Damian sought to impress the king in other unconventional ways.
The poet William Dunbar penned 'A Ballad of The False Friar of Tongland, How He Fell in the Mire Flying to Turkey,' a satirical piece mocking the exploits and endeavors of John Damian. The poem particularly highlights Damian's ill-fated attempt to soar from the walls of Stirling Castle using wings of his own design. While it is said that Damian did indeed manage to fly for a brief moment, his triumph was short-lived as he crashed into a heap of mud, resulting in a broken leg.
Damian offered an explanation for his flying mishap to the king. He attributed his failure to the presence of hen feathers in his wings, claiming they had a preference for the muck and not the sky. A poor bird-man always blames his feathers.
9. Roger Bacon’s Talking Head
Roger Bacon was a renowned intellectual of the 13th century, known for his vast achievements. His peers affectionately referred to him as 'doctor mirabilis.' Bacon made significant contributions to the development of the scientific method, emphasizing the importance of testing and experimentation. However, like many of his contemporaries, he also dedicated considerable time to the study of alchemy.
One of the alchemical pursuits linked to Bacon is his search for the Philosopher’s Stone. His writings detail various alchemical processes from his time. As he stated, 'Truly, whoever knows how to do these things would have the perfect medicine, which the philosophers call the Elixir, which immerses itself in the liquefaction as it is consumed by the fire and does not flee.'
One of Bacon’s most famous alchemical feats was the alleged creation of a Brazen Head. In the 16th-century text 'The Famous Historie of Fryer Bacon,' it is recounted that Bacon crafted a bronze head designed to reveal the secrets of the universe. He meticulously created a model of a human head from metal, complete with a brain, and set it to work. However, Bacon missed the moment of wisdom when the head finally spoke, uttering, 'Time is. Time was. Time is past.'
8. Hennig Brand
Some of the most groundbreaking scientific discoveries happened by pure accident, and alchemy was no exception. Hennig Brand, a 17th-century alchemist, was driven by his quest for the Philosopher’s Stone. His first wife’s wealth funded this pursuit, but he failed to achieve his goal and squandered all her money. A second marriage provided him with new financial means to continue his search.
Brand’s brilliant idea was that urine could be used to produce silver. He gathered large quantities of urine and boiled it down, leaving behind a solid residue. This substance was then placed into a furnace and heated to a red-hot temperature. To his surprise, a glowing cloud of fumes emerged, and a liquid poured out that ignited in flames. When captured and covered, this liquid emitted a greenish glow for hours. Brand had unintentionally discovered the element phosphorus.
In order to extract about 120 grams of phosphorus, Brand had to boil down more than 5,000 liters of urine.
7. The Creation of Life
One of the greatest mysteries in alchemy was how to create life itself. Among the most legendary alchemists was Jabir ibn Hayyan, whose work was deeply centered around the pursuit of creating new life.
Jabir, known as Geber in Europe, lived in the early 8th century and gained such widespread fame that many alchemical works were attributed to him. Often called the father of chemistry, he is recognized for discovering methods to produce inorganic compounds from organic materials. Jabir also claimed to have developed an elixir that could restore health.
'I saw her near death, her strength almost gone. But I had a bit of the elixir with me, and I made her drink two grains dissolved in 3 oz. of pure oxymel. By God and my Master, I had to cover my face before the maiden, for in less than half an hour, her health was restored to an even higher state than before.'
Jabir also delved into the creation of synthetic life from inanimate matter, a practice known as Takwin in Islamic alchemy. Among the recipes attributed to Jabir, or his followers, are instructions for creating snakes, scorpions, and even humans in the alchemical laboratory. However, no one has yet succeeded in following Jabir's instructions with success.
6. The Banning of Alchemy
Throughout history, rulers, including kings, queens, popes, and emperors, have invested vast fortunes into the practice of alchemy. The allure of creating precious metals from nothing has long captivated those in power. However, when alchemists inevitably failed to deliver, they often faced angry and vengeful patrons. One such punishment for alchemists was being hung on a scaffold, adorned with gold, as a stark reminder of the false promises they made.
In 1404, Henry IV of England passed a law known as 'The Act Against Multiplication.' This law wasn’t about mathematics but was instead aimed at outlawing alchemy. The concern was that if someone discovered how to create gold or silver, it would render the crown’s currency worthless.
In 1317, Pope John XXII issued a decree called Spondent Pariter, which banned the practice of alchemy. He referred to alchemy as 'The Crime of Falsification.' If an alchemist claimed to have created precious metals, they would face a fine equal to the weight of that metal in gold. Those unable to pay the fine would be sentenced to prison. The pope criticized alchemists, stating, 'Poor themselves, the alchemists promise riches which are not forthcoming.'
5. John Dee Communicates with Angels
John Dee was one of the most renowned alchemists and magicians of Elizabethan England. He even served as an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I and was the first to propose the idea of a British Empire. Unfortunately, Dee's judgment in choosing associates wasn't as sharp, and he became involved with several charlatans.
One of Dee's collaborators was Edward Kelley, an alchemist with a notorious reputation. It was Queen Elizabeth's hope that Dee and Kelley could generate enough gold to resolve England's financial issues. However, Kelley failed to produce any gold or much wealth for himself. Instead, he found a way to ease his own financial troubles by convincing Dee that an angel had instructed them to share everything, including their possessions and even their wives.
Dee was apparently convinced that Kelley was a channel for angelic communications. He believed that conversing with angels would grant him access to the secrets of the universe. To communicate with angels, Dee and Kelley used a polished obsidian scrying stone. On one occasion, an angel even handed over the stone personally. Dee described the experience as follows:
'I came within two feet of it, and at first, I saw nothing. Then, I noticed a shadow on the ground, near my books by the west window. The shadow was round and smaller than the palm of my hand. I reached down, and when I touched it, I felt something cold and hard. Upon picking it up, I realized it was the stone I had been seeking.'
4. Body Stealing and Bones
Johann Conrad Dippel, who lived at the close of the 18th century, may have led one of the most dramatic and eventful lives among alchemists. His experiences were so extraordinary that they might have inspired the character of Victor Frankenstein.
Dippel was a man of many facets. As a theologian, he found himself entangled in numerous controversies. His ideas were so contentious that entire countries, such as Sweden and Russia, banned him. Between religious disputes, he devoted his time to creating a so-called elixir for perfect health.
This 'elixir' was concocted by boiling bones, blood, and other bodily fluids in iron vessels. The result was a tarry, brown liquid that emitted a horrific odor. Rather than curing illness, it tended to either stimulate those who encountered it or prompt them to flee. It is said that Dippel offered the recipe for his creation in exchange for the deeds to Castle Frankenstein. During World War II, this 'Dippel’s Oil' was used to poison wells, preventing enemy access. Since it wasn't fatal, this was not deemed a violation of the Geneva Conventions.
After his death, rumors spread that Dippel was the model for Frankenstein due to his reported habit of stealing bodies for his experiments. What we know for certain from his writings is that he was intrigued by the possibility of transferring the soul into a lifeless body.
3. Fang
Long before Europeans delved into the subtle art of alchemy, Chinese alchemists had already achieved remarkable technical expertise. Over two millennia ago, an alchemist known only as Fang claimed to have discovered the true method for making silver.
Fang was closely connected to the Imperial Court, and it is possible that she even taught alchemy to one of the Emperor's consorts. Based on descriptions of Fang's methods, it appears she may have discovered a technique involving mercury to purify silver, a process still used today. When mercury is combined with ores containing high levels of precious metals, the metals dissolve in the mercury and are later separated when the mercury evaporates.
Unfortunately, Fang was not as fortunate in her choice of spouse. Her husband could not tolerate the fact that she held the secret of this process. Fang would only explain that such knowledge could not be gained unless one had the proper destiny. Unable to accept this, her husband physically abused her, but still, she refused to disclose her secret.
Our sources suggest that Fang never revealed the true nature of her alchemical secret, though her husband relentlessly tormented her for it. Eventually, Fang went mad, fled from the house in the nude, covered herself in mud, and died—taking the knowledge of her alchemy with her to the grave.
2. How to Really Turn Lead into Gold
Chrysopoeia, the transformation of base metals into gold, was one of alchemy's most coveted goals. Despite the numerous claims made by alchemists over the centuries, there was never any successful proof of lead changing into gold. With the rise of modern chemistry, we discovered that no amount of boiling, mixing, or even burying in manure would ever transmute one element into another. However, physics revealed a potential method to alter metals.
The advent of nuclear physics enabled scientists to delve into the workings of the atom. Elements are defined by the number of protons in their nucleus, which is why chemical processes cannot transform one element into another. However, by colliding atomic nuclei, physicists were able to convert bismuth atoms into gold.
Unfortunately, it turns out that the energy and technology required to smash atoms together are far more costly than the gold that could potentially be produced.
1. Newton’s Greatest Works
Isaac Newton was one of the most brilliant minds of the 17th century, and not solely because of his work on the physics of light. A mathematician and physicist, he produced some of the most groundbreaking works in those fields. However, it’s lesser known that much of his time was spent studying alchemy. One scholar remarked, 'Newton was not the first of the age of reason, he was the last of the magicians.' Newton’s papers contain nearly a million words dedicated to alchemical study.
Newton's scientific work was often intertwined with his alchemical studies. Alongside his research on optics, one can find references to alchemical symbols like 'Neptune’s Trident,' 'Mercury’s Caducean Rod,' and 'Green Lyon.'
Newton endured a nervous breakdown while immersed in his alchemical pursuits. It's quite possible that the mercury vapors from his experiments played a role in his mental decline. One chemical experiment, known as Diana’s Tree, led him to believe that metals possessed a form of life when he witnessed silver crystals forming.
We might owe Newton’s interest in alchemy for the colors of the rainbow. He was the first to show that white light consists of a spectrum of colors, naming seven of them. While most people struggle to differentiate between indigo and violet, Newton chose seven colors because the number seven held significant importance in alchemical traditions.
