Of the Great Stone of the Ancient Philosophers (The XII Keys)
The images below are facsimiles of the woodblock images engraved by Matthaeus Merian (1593–1650). From Tripus aureus as published in the collection Musaeum hermeticum, reformatum et amplificatum. Francofurti : Apud Hermannum à Sande, 1678. In Latin.
I have titled each picture appropriate to the subject addressed by each chapter explaining the XII Keys. Keys to the Kingdom of Alchemy is an in-depth exploration into the substances and processes encrypted in each Key and corresponding image. Together, they comprise Basil Valentine's recipe for confecting the "Great Stone of the Ancient Philosophers".
Key 1 - Grey Wolf and Lion King
Key 2 - Two Mercuries (Mercurius Duplicatus)
Key 3 - Coelestial Sulphur
Key 4 - Salt of Ashes
Key 5 - Spirit of Mercury
Key 6 - Chemical Wedding
Key 7 - Judged by Fire
Key 8 - Putrefaction of Adam
Key 9 - Planetary Colors
Key 10 - Water, Ashes and Sand
Key 11 - Noble Offspring
Key 12 - Fermented Tincture and Fixt Gold
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