Historia Alchemiae 101 – Origins and Evolution of the Royal Art

This course provides a sweeping historical overview of the Hermetic tradition of alchemy, tracing its development from ancient Egypt and Greco-Roman Alexandria through the Islamic Golden Age, Medieval Europe, and the Renaissance, into its transformation during the Scientific Revolution. Students will explore alchemy as a spiritual, chemical, and philosophical tradition, with emphasis on core doctrines such as the Three Principles (Sulfur, Mercury, Salt), the Four Elements, and the Great Work (Magnum Opus).