Alchemical Symbols

錬金術記号 / medieval–18th century / Style / Symbol Systems

The signs that recorded substances and operations between secrecy and sharing. The system binding planets to metals vanished into chemical notation, but survives as the graphics of mystery, quoted to this day.

Alchemical Symbols — Table of chemical and philosophical symbols 17th century — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain — Table of chemical and philosophical symbols 17th century — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Alchemical Symbols — Table of alchemical symbols in the Venice manuscript Marcianus gr. 299 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain — Table of alchemical symbols in the Venice manuscript Marcianus gr. 299 — Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

At a glance

Visual cues

Planet-metal correspondences
Geometry composed with crosses
Cipher-like secrecy
Tables handed down

Best used for

Building signs for a binding or package on themes of secrecy
Designing props for a fantasy story from images with real lineage

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Dictionary entry

Type: Chosen from existing tables, unified as circle, triangle and cross
Composition: Signs ranged evenly as a table, glosses gathered underneath
Material: Engraved hairlines on yellowed paper, no metallic sheen
Caution: Signs invented for atmosphere read as false to anyone who knows which substance each one names, and the work sinks to decoration.
Further study: Newton's alchemical notebooks / the turn to Dalton's symbols / quotation in modern occult imagery

Related entries

Heraldry (西洋紋章学)Same Symbol Systems lineage.Compare Alchemical Symbols and Heraldry
Celestial Atlas (星図の様式)Shared effects: Luxury.Compare Alchemical Symbols and Celestial Atlas

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