8/19/2019 Y4 - Intro to Alchemy 101

1/2

Alchemy is a complex and scientifc branch o magic

Philosophy and study o elements and transmutation

 Transmutation is the act o using one’s magic or natural energy to turn one

substance into another.

As such, alchemy is connected with potion-making, chemistry, and

transormation-based magic.

Alchemy also concerns philosophy to some degree

Alchemical texts are oten ull o mystical speculation. ikewise, Ancient !unes

play a part in it, as alchemy borrows symbols rom many di"erent backgrounds.

At frst, this allowed or ree communication between alchemists rom all o#er the

world, but the downside is that it causes e#en the simplest alchemic e$uations to

look #ery complex.

 The word %alchemy& is traced back through 'edie#al atin and Arabic words, all

the way back to an ancient (gyptian word, %khem&, which means %black earth&.

 This comes rom (gypt’s nati#e name in the ancient language, %)emet&.

Alchemy as we know it comes rom (gypt

*as contributed to se#eral other felds, such as ore testing and refning,

metalworking, and manuacturing glass and ceramics.

*as also contributed to the creation o gunpowder and production o inks, dyes,and cosmetics.

Prominent alchemists include +icolas lamel, umbledore, ou /en, and

Paracelsus

Assignment0 Two pages on what you’#e learned today

1ntroduction to Alchemy 232

Alchemy is an ancient branch o magic that has been practiced since anti$uity,

and is pursued with a complex, but rigorous and scientifc discipline unlike many

other magicks. 1t concerns itsel primarily with the study o elements and

philosophy. 4hie among its pursuits is transmutation 5 using magic to transorm

one substance into another 5 and as such it is intimately associated with potion-

making, 'uggle chemistry, and Transfgurati#e magic.

A uni$ue aspect o alchemical studies is that they are oten written in complex

magical codes and symbols. esiring secrecy in their studies, and earing

persecution, alchemists employed ancient runes and symbols, as well as esoteric

branches o arcane philosophy, when writing their texts. This allowed alchemists

to communicate reely on a global scale, with no language barriers6 but also

ser#ed to make alchemy exceedingly di7cult to understand or outsiders andnewcomers, and the simplest e$uations look #ery complex.

8/19/2019 Y4 - Intro to Alchemy 101

2/2

Alchemy is belie#ed to ha#e originated in (gypt, and the word deri#es rom an

ancient (gyptian word %khem&, meaning %black earth& 8itsel deri#ed rom

Ancient (gypt’s nati#e name, %)emet&9 . Through 'edie#al atin and Arabic

in:uences it has e#ol#ed to the modern word we use today.

Prominent alchemists throughout history include ou /en, Paracelsus, and morerecently, +icolas lamel and Albus umbledore. Alchemy has contributed to

se#eral #ery important 'uggle felds, which include %ore testing and refning&,

metalworking, and the manuacture o inks, dyes, cosmetics, glass and ceramics.

'uggles ha#e also adapted the disco#eries o ancient alchemists 8but thanks to

the 1nternational ;tatute o ;ecrecy, not more modern de#elopments9 to

reportedly create %gumpowder&. 1ts exact use is currently under in#estigation by

the 'inistry o 'agic.