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[Alexandr Korol]

“Alchemists worked on the refinement or purification of certain materials. Common goals included tetrasomata — the transmutation of base metals (like lead) into noble ones (like gold); the creation of the elixir of immortality; and the creation of a panacea — a remedy capable of curing any disease. It was believed that the perfection of the human body and soul was the result of the alchemical magnum opus (“Great Work”). The idea of creating the Philosopher’s Stone was in various ways connected to all the goals mentioned above.
Muslim and European alchemists developed a foundational set of laboratory methods, theories, and terms, some of which are still in use today. They retained the ancient Greek philosophical idea that everything is composed of four elements and sought to keep their work hidden from the common people, often using ciphers and mysterious symbolism. In Europe, translations of medieval Islamic scientific texts and the reinterpretation of Aristotle’s philosophy gave rise to a flourishing tradition of Latin alchemy. This tradition played a significant role in the development of early modern science — especially chemistry and medicine.
Modern study and discussion of alchemy are usually divided into two main approaches: the investigation of its practical applications and the exploration of its esoteric spiritual aspects — despite criticism of this division by some scholars, such as Eric J. Holmyard and Marie-Louise von Franz, who argue that these aspects should be understood as complementary. The first approach is taken by historians of the physical sciences, who examine the subject in terms of early chemistry, medicine, and charlatanism, as well as its philosophical and religious contexts. The second approach is of interest to historians of esotericism, psychologists, philosophers, and spiritualists. Alchemical themes have also had a noticeable influence on literature and art.”