A Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery [Paperback]

Lyndy Abraham (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521000009 | ISBN-13: 978-0521000000 | Publication Date: March 12, 2001

This dictionary documents alchemical symbolism from the early centuries AD to the late-twentieth century, for use by historians of literary culture, philosophy, science and the visual arts, and readers interested in alchemy and hermeticism. Each entry includes a definition of the symbol, giving the literal (physical) and figurative (spiritual) meanings, an example of the symbol used in alchemical writing, and a quotation from a literary source. There are fifty visual images of graphic woodcuts, copperplate engravings and hand-painted emblems, some reproduced here for the first time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...this is a rich and generous source of information, with many illustrations and copious cross-referencing. Abraham makes an arcane subject accessible without diminishing its rich complexity." Journal of Englih and Germanic Philology

"Lyndy Abraham's Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery represents an invaluable research and reference tool for the specialist in literary studies, the art historian, and the historian of science. Delving into a rich variety of alchemical writings from Aquinas to Zoroaster and a wide range of literary texts, the Dictionary supplies ample evidence for the myriad ways in which alchemical thinking and imagery entered into the broader culture of early modern Europe through poetry, drama, and literature." Deborah Harkness

"...Abraham presents an intellectual dense, highly focused view of alchemical images in a Renaissance context." Norman Weinstein, Parabola

"Accessible and well formatted, this work will find an audience with historians of literary culture, philosophy, science, and visual arts, as well as armchair scholars with an interest in alchemy and hermeticism. This book is recommended for large public and academic collections." Edmund F. Santa Vicca, Choice

Book Description

This dictionary documents alchemical symbolism from the early centuries AD to the late-twentieth century, for use by historians of literary culture, philosophy, science and the visual arts, and readers interested in alchemy and hermeticism. Each entry includes a definition of the symbol, giving the literal (physical) and figurative (spiritual) meanings, an example of the symbol used in alchemical writing, and a quotation from a literary source. There are fifty visual images of graphic woodcuts, copperplate engravings and hand-painted emblems, some reproduced here for the first time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 12, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521000009
• ISBN-13: 978-0521000000
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #671,844 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Irish
  • #18 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Welsh

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Philosopher's Stone, April 25, 2000

By 

Michael Martin (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery (Hardcover)

This is a superb book for anyone interested in alchemy. For those interested in alchemy and its connections to literature-- it's even better. The articles are bursting with relevant information and insight into this often perplexing subject matter in an accessible, readable style. A "must have" for anyone interested in alchemy. The only thing I don't like is the price, which may prove prohibitive for some.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars workhorse for literary alchemy, September 20, 2005

By 

Albert Hand "student-teacher of alchemical arts" (northern CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery (Paperback)

this book is fun, well written, and detailed. most useful for literary and artistic readings of alchemy, or "comparative religion" type studies, less so for detailed info on the protoscientific aspects (try Lawrence Principe). I'm using this book for a class on alchemy I'm teaching this semester. It's a good way to approach the rich terminology and symbolism, though it can get a bit repetetive as the same idea gets explained in different ways in different articles. Could have better footnotes and cross-referencing, but very useful for the casual reader or beginning student who is just becoming familiar with a confusing and difficult set of terms and images.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery, November 9, 2009

By 

javafusion - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Dictionary of Alchemical Imagery (Hardcover)

Each entry has been made sufficiently complete and independent of the others, with detailed cross referencing. Entires on key concepts - the prima materia, the chemical wedding, the philosophers stone, Mercurius, and the stages known as the nigredo, albedo and rebedo - provide basic information about the main ideas of the alchemical opus for those unfamiliar with alchemical theory. Recommended as a general introduction to the subject.

See also: Arthur Dee: Fasciculus chemicus, translated by Elias Ashmole (English Renaissance Hermeticism, Vol 6)