Greek Alchemy from Late Antiquity to Early Modernity

This volume engages in the effort to shed light on Greek alchemy from the 1st century CE to the 18th century, discussing and presenting relative sources, as well as the reception, transformation and use of this 'art'. It also examines newly discovered manuscripts and offers a commented translation of Stephanos of Alexandria?s prayers. Furthermore, it addresses the problems of laboratory replication and chemical explanation of early alchemical processes, and presents educational activities that use historical texts for the reconstruction of apparatuses in the school laboratory.00What do we really know about Greek alchemy throughout the ages? Certain periods, such as the Byzantine and post-Byzantine, have been somewhat overlooked. This volume engages in the effort to shed light on certain aspects of Greek Alchemy from the 1st century CE to the 18th century, discussing and presenting relative sources, as well as the reception, transformation and use of this 'art'. The book also examines newly discovered manuscripts and offers a commented translation of Stephanos of Alexandria?s prayers. Furthermore, to better understand the material aspect of alchemy, it addresses the expectations and problems of laboratory replication and chemical explanation of early alchemical processes, and presents educational activities that use historical texts for the reconstruction of apparatuses in the school laboratory in secondary education.00Efthymios Nicolaidis is director of the History, Philosophy and Didactics of Science and Technology Programme of the Institute of Historical Research / National Hellenic Research Foundation (www.hpdts.gr). He has published about the relations between science and religion, the history of science in Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire, and the spread of Modern European science. President of the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science (2013-2017), Permanenet Secretary of the International Academy of History of Science (2017- ).