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The Mirror of Alchemy
The Mirror of Alchimy is a short alchemical manual, known in Latin as Speculum Alchemiae . Translated in 1597, it was only the second alchemical text printed in the English language. Long ascribed to Roger Bacon (1214-1294), the work is more likely the product of an anonymous author who wrote between the thirteenth and the fifteenth centuries.
26 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1992
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About the author
Roger Bacon
182 books45 followersborn perhaps 1214
died 1292
Opus Majus (1267) of English friar and philosopher Roger Bacon, known as "Doctor Mirabilis," argued that Christian studies encompass the sciences.
This Franciscan, a member of Order of Friars Minor, whose scholastic accolade means "wonderful teacher," placed considerable emphasis on nature through empirical methods. The works of Aristotle and later pseudo-works like those of Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn al-Haytham of Egypt inspire the modern method, which he in Europe earliest advocated, as people, mainly starting in the 19th century, sometimes credit him. From books, he, essentially a medieval thinker, obtained much of his "experiment" in the scholastic tradition, as more recent reevaluations emphasize. Reception of work of Bacon often reflects the central concerns and controversies over centuries, according to as a survey.
died 1292
Opus Majus (1267) of English friar and philosopher Roger Bacon, known as "Doctor Mirabilis," argued that Christian studies encompass the sciences.
This Franciscan, a member of Order of Friars Minor, whose scholastic accolade means "wonderful teacher," placed considerable emphasis on nature through empirical methods. The works of Aristotle and later pseudo-works like those of Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn al-Haytham of Egypt inspire the modern method, which he in Europe earliest advocated, as people, mainly starting in the 19th century, sometimes credit him. From books, he, essentially a medieval thinker, obtained much of his "experiment" in the scholastic tradition, as more recent reevaluations emphasize. Reception of work of Bacon often reflects the central concerns and controversies over centuries, according to as a survey.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 18, 2015
A concise and accessible introduction to alchemy written by an authority in this field, Roger Bacon. Although it is impossible to take anything in this little booklet seriously, one has to admire the resolve and clarity with which the author goes about his business. And let us not make any bones about it, gold is what all of us are interested in, isn't it? "Gold is a perfect masculine body, without any superfluity or diminution: and if it should perfect imperfect bodies mingled with it by melting only, it should be Elixir to red." Maybe the rest is indeed written in code to conceal the mysteries from the uninitiated, in which case it is only to be expected one understands none of it.
December 27, 2012
I don't know how much I got out of this but I sure like the words spilling untrammelled from Roger Bacon's lips and fingers.
May 28, 2012
A fascinating short tractatus on alchemical theory. Definitely well worth your time if you're at all interested in the period.
July 17, 2022
This reads like a poem!
I can tell this was written with great underlying messages, containing known secrets among the esoteric alchemists.
One must be fluent with the subject to understand the material.
I can tell this was written with great underlying messages, containing known secrets among the esoteric alchemists.
One must be fluent with the subject to understand the material.
October 31, 2023
Slightly interesting 'scientific' record.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews