Divinity Atlas

Sacred Correspondences
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The Secrets of Alchemy

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Lawrence M. Principe's standard modern scholarly treatment of alchemy, published by the University of Chicago Press, treating it as both a real laboratory practice and a system of allegory, correcting older popular accounts that treated it as either purely mystical or purely proto-chemical. Principe's standing as a historian of science and the academic press publication place this at this atlas's top tier. It is a strong source for how alchemy was actually practiced and understood historically. As a single volume treatment, a claim about one specific alchemist or textual tradition in great depth may need a more specialized study alongside it.

Facts
Citation
Author
Lawrence M. Principe
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Publication Year
2013
URL
https://www.bibliovault.org/BV.landing.epl?ISBN=9780226682952
Source Type
academic monograph
Assessment
Reliability Tier
1
The standard modern scholarly treatment of alchemy from a university press, treating it as both laboratory practice and allegory rather than as a living instructional text.
Notes
Standard modern scholarly treatment of alchemy as laboratory practice and as allegory.
Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Chicago, Cities

This source names Chicago directly: "published by the University of Chicago Press, treating it as both a real laboratory practice and a system of allegory, correcting older popular accounts that treated it as either purely mystical or..."

Source The Secrets of AlchemyLawrence M. Principe
Claims Backed By This Source (904 claims)

This source backs 904 claims across the atlas. As facts: 608 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 2 open question. As cited relationships: 147 holds. Plus 145 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

  • Articles, 238 claims: 221 well-attested, 7 holds, 10 general references.
  • Alchemical Substances, 160 claims: 77 well-attested, 40 holds, 43 general references.
  • Alchemical Operations, 112 claims: 84 well-attested, 21 holds, 7 general references.
  • Alchemical Apparatus, 79 claims: 28 well-attested, 30 holds, 21 general references.
  • Esoteric Texts, 65 claims: 51 well-attested, 1 open question, 8 holds, 5 general references.
  • Metals, 51 claims: 36 well-attested, 7 holds, 8 general references.
  • Magnum Opus Stages, 40 claims: 28 well-attested, 8 holds, 4 general references.
  • Historical Figures, 32 claims: 17 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 1 open question, 5 holds, 7 general references.
  • Categories, 22 claims: 18 well-attested, 4 general references.
  • Alchemical Principles, 21 claims: 12 well-attested, 6 holds, 3 general references.
  • Periodic Elements, 19 claims: 2 holds, 17 general references.
  • Colors, 14 claims: 7 holds, 7 general references.
  • Mythical Creatures, 12 claims: 7 well-attested, 2 holds, 3 general references.
  • Disciplines, 10 claims: 7 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.
  • Sources, 9 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds.
  • Subcategories, 9 claims: 7 well-attested, 2 general references.
  • Open Questions, 8 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
  • Figures, 2 claims: 1 well-attested, 1 general references.
  • Doctrines, 1 claims: 1 general references.

Scholarly debate

2

Open question

2

Esoteric Texts

Historical Figures

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