The Alchemists

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Subject: The Alchemists Wed May 31 2006, 14:46

Number 15 woo hoo!! So yes I've decided to go back to Alchemy and write another essay so please enjoy - it's one of my shorter ones lol.

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The alchemists are a sub-group somewhere between Order of Hermes and the Sons of Ether. While they use the terminology and symbols of the Order, they share the solitary attitude and the interest in the sphere of matter with the Sons.

The origin of alchemy is lost in time. Alchemists sometimes claim that the Art was created in Egypt, by the god Thoth (Sometimes identified with the Greek Hermes). During the Alexandran period (4th to 7th century AD) alchemy flourished. Alchemy developed, influenced by the Gnostics and by hermetic groups in the Mediterranean. Many alchemists argue that the great truths of the Art was first discovered by Hermes Trismegistros (The thrice blessed Hermes), a mage somewhere in the first century. But it was not until the Middle Ages that alchemy became the Art known today.

The alchemists have a history of ignoring the politics of the Order. Like the Cabalists, they gained considerable influence after the fall of the false order. Disappointed hermetics joined the alchemists, and they became one of the most influential sub-groups of the Order during the renaissance. During this time the alchemists was the bridge between the Order of Hermes and the Sons of Ether. They could perform their arts almost in plain sight, as physicians and learned men. The ranked several famous mages in their ranks, like Artephius, Geber, Paracelsus, Agrippa and count Saint-Germain. Some of these may still be around.

The alchemists unwittingly created the ideas the technocracy used to create their chemistry and medicine, thereby slowly destroying the power base for them as physicians and pharmaceuticists. In fact, some alchemists joined the technocracy in order to help them create a true system of the science of matter. Newton may have been one of them. According to malign rumours among alchemists, the young Newton (hardly more than apprentice) had created an intelligence increasing elixir, which he used that fateful summer when he "discovered" the laws of mechanics and gravity. Afterwards he joined the Void Engineers (founded by Copernicus himself). But unfortunately his reliance on his secret elixir made him prematurely senile, a just punishment according to the alchemists.

The alchemists became known as goldmakers and frauds as the technomancers grip on chemistry, medicine and physics increased. But the alchemists turned out to be a bit more resistant than the technomancers thought, and managed to survive. Today they still use their magick, using health food and alternative medicine as camouflage for their own medicine. Alchemical societies exist in many larger cities.

The alchemists and the Sons of Ether are very close. Some alchemists have begun to use the methods of the Sons, trying electricity and the technical methods. Sons of Ether have been deeply influenced by the alchemists in their models of how the ether behaves (The alchemists claim to have developed the theory in the early middle ages, something the Sons hotly dispute). In fact, it is hard to tell where the alchemists end and the Sons begin. The most notable difference is terminology. Alchemists prefer the hermetic obtuse symbolism, using Cabala, astrology and the Greek gods in their magick, while the Sons prefer their own quasi- scientific jargon.

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There is essay number 15 woo hoo!

Sources once again from my own knowledge and books but for your pleasure here is a site: http://www.chemsoc.org/ExemplarChem/entries/2002/crabb/history.html

Subject: Re: The Alchemists Wed May 31 2006, 17:07

You have really great essay writing skills. Very informative and interesting. I would say keep it up - but I already know you have lol

Well done! You have recieved another 50 housepoints!