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Nick Laidlaw

ENGL-1102
Round Table Assignment
Who does not understand should either learn, or be silent.
John Dee, The Hieroglyphic Monad

John Dee was a philosopher, a mathematician, occultist, and alchemist. He believed in
the search for knowledge ('About', Lee). And one of his great studies was alchemy. Alchemy,
according to the Oxford dictionary, is the medieval forerunner of chemistry, based on the
supposed transformation of matter. It was concerned particularly with attempts to convert base
metals into gold or to find a universal elixir. There is another definition from Oxford dictionary,
a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination. However, with today's
view on this ancient chemistry, people of the 21st century are depicting it differently from
culture to culture. The history of alchemy, how do Christians view it? How has it spread to other
cultures? These are the viewpoints I wish to explore.
The only way to know how it was divided into many cultures is to find the history.
According to the University of Bristol, they have discovered one origin of alchemy was
developed in Egypt ('Brief', BUoC). After Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, so it spread to
Greek, then Rome. When Christianity set in, it was persecuted from The Holy Roman Empire
('Alchemy', Nummedal). Then when the Arabians had taken control of Egypt, they added their
pronunciations to the word. Originally Khemia, the Arabians added Al- to the beginning of the
word, creating Alkhemia ('History', Hauck).
With a much more religious point of view, China had developed this independently,
which is what caused many to believe it to be the origin country. It popped up at the same time
as the Tao, pronounced "D-ow", which is the Chinese version of necromancy, magic believed to
raise the dead ('Study', Johnson). India also developed it, but in a more spiritual belief,
combining science and their meditation, purifying the body ('Brief', BUoC). China continued its
study of it and it spread from there to the European area and Spain in the 8th century. Here it was
persecuted by Christians as pagan as it used to be in Rome. At this time, being a Wiccan, a
person who studied Herbalism and healing arts, was considered witchcraft ('History', Hauck).
The word Pagan, according to the Oxford dictionary, is holding religious beliefs other than those
of the main world religions. So actual worship of the devil is considered pagan. Most people
have main world religions, i.e Christianity, Judaism, Islam, et cetera. There aren't too many small
religions in the 21st century.
So we have seen how it has spread in the past, but in this new century, there are many
views of magic and alchemy in each culture, both being confused of being one in th same. How
has it spread and how is it represented? J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter Series, which is
about a young wizard and his life tales. The name of the first book was, originally, called Harry
Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Later changed to Sorcerer's Stone for other countries such as
the U.S. The philosopher's stone was supposedly the universal transmutation matter. It was said
that it was able to convert any metal to gold. But J.K. Rowling even changed the name into
Sorcerer's Stone because it was more magic sounding and nobody outside of Europe knows a lot
about it. Scientists and historians do, but everyday people don't.
In Japan, Hiromu Arakawa wrote a Japanese comic series called Fullmetal Alchemist.
This was popular and even got its own cartoon and was exported to other countries. If you watch
the cartoon, you see they draw magic symbols, pull creations out of the Earth from just dirt, and
even turn coal into gold. This is one influence of Alchemy, even though it seems to be based
more on magic then science, the name disagrees. Here is a representation of its altered state.
Magic based on its original science counterpart.
To wrap this up, history shows how much and far alchemy has changed. You can still see
it around with its influences from and upon it. And with Christianity pushing it out of
everywhere it goes. So Christians altered it an extreme amount. Then, the revolution of the 21st
century seriously showed the creativity of the new age, but also it has changed our view on what
was and what is and the opinions of people.

Works Cited
Johnson, Obed Simon. A Study of Chinese Alchemy. New York: Arno, 1974. Print.


Nummedal, Tara E. Alchemy and Authority in the Holy Roman Empire. Chicago: University of
Chicago, 2007. Print.


Lee, Paul. "About Dr.John Dee." About Dr.John Dee. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.


Hauck, Dennis W. "History of Alchemy from Ancient Egypt to Modern Times." History of
Alchemy from Ancient Egypt to Modern Times. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.


"A Brief History of Alchemy." A Brief History of Alchemy. Univeristy Of Bristol, Web. 07 Mar.
2014.

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