Recipes of the Ancients



1. For the preparation of "ios" (our verdigris)

Place copper over lees of wine and remove the rust that is formed (Stillman 20).

2. To make gold colored water (a solution of persulphide of lime)

Kibrit (sulphur) 1, sulfur, asphar 1, quicklime, 1 part. Place in a pot (cacabo) with ox urine and heat 1 hour and you will see a golden color (Stillman 204).

3. The doubling of asem.

"This is the way the doubling of asem is accomplished. Take refined copper (chalchos) 40 drachmas, asem 8 drachmas, button tin 40 drachmas. The copper is first melted and after two heatings the tin and finally the asem is added. When all is softened, remelt several times and cool by means of the preceeding composition. (No. 5?) Clean with coupholith (talc and selenite according to Berthelot). The tripling (triplosis) is effected by the same process, the weights being proportioned in conformity with what has been directed above."

Stillman, John Maxson. "The Story of Alchemy and Early Chemistry" New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1960, p. 82

4. Purification of tin.

"Liquid pitch and bitumen, one part each. Throw it on and melt and stir. Of dry pitch 20 drachmas, bitumen 12 drachmas."

Stillman, John Maxson. "The Story of Alchemy and Early Chemistry" New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1960, p. 82

5. Augmentation of Gold.

" To augment gold, take Thracian cadmia, make the mixture with the cadmia in crusts; or cadmia of Gaul, misy and sinopian red, equal parts to that of gold. When the gold has been put into the furnace and has become of good color, throw in these two ingredients and removing [the gold] let it cool and the gold will be doubled."

Stillman, John Maxson. "The Story of Alchemy and Early Chemistry" New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1960, p. 83

6. To gild silver.

"Take quicksilver and gold leaf, making to the consistency of wax. Clean the vase with alum, and taking a little of the waxy material, spread it on the vase with the polisher and let it stand to fix. Do this five times. Take the vase with a linen cloth so that it be not soiled, and removing it from the coals, prepare ashes, smooth with the polisher and use it as a gold vase. It will stand the test for real gold."

Stillman, John Maxson. "The Story of Alchemy and Early Chemistry" New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1960, p. 85

7. To prepare purple.

"Break in small pieces Phrygian Stone; bring to a boil and having immersed the wool leave it till it becomes cool, then throwing into the vessel one mina of algae, boil and throw in the wool and letting cool, wash it in sea-water to the purple coloration. The Phrygian stone is roasted before breaking."

Stillman, John Maxson. "The Story of Alchemy and Early Chemistry" New York: Dover Publications Inc., 1960, p. 86




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