All About History

All About History is the stunningly realised new magazine from the makers of How It Works and All About Space. Featuring beautiful illustrations, photos and graphics depicting everything from ancient civilisations to the Cold War, All About History is accessible and entertaining to all and makes history fun for the whole family.

WELCOME TO HISTORY OF ALCHEMY

History of Alchemy • Future PLC Richmond House, 33 Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH2 6EZ

Secrets of the alchemists • Alchemists tried to find the ancient recipe for making gold and achieving immortality. None succeeded, yet modern science owes much to their techniques

Legendary alchemists • The major figures of alchemy from the ancient world to the Renaissance

Materials and methods • For the practical alchemists, many different methods and a wide range of equipment were essential

Secrets and symbols • To ensure knowledge was kept from the unworthy, manuscripts were filled with symbols and codes

The secret history of alchemy • Alchemists searched for hidden paths to riches and spiritual perfection but for the first time their secrets are being uncovered

Ancient Chinese alchemy • Chinese alchemists were among the first in the world, and though their ideas spread far and wide, some have remained unique to Chinese tradition

Sun and Moon mirrors

Alchemy from India • Hindu myth may contain some of the earliest references to alchemical secrets, and Indian alchemists left many discoveries for later scientists

Raseśvara, mercury and immortality

Alchemy in Europe • Alchemy took many forms, but in the European Middle Ages it played a central role in many of the developments of the age

Getting the bile out of medicine

The crucible of alchemy • Alchemy began in the unique surroundings of 3rd century Alexandria. What was it about the Egyptian port city that made it the birthplace of this mysterious art?

Gods of Alexandria

Early alchemists • The earliest alchemists are more legend than historical figure

Thoth, magic, and Hermes Trismegistus • A mythical figure. An ancient prophet. The figure of Hermes Trismegistus is shrouded in mystery, but where did the founder of Hermeticism really come from?

Gods of writing and magic

The mysterious Book of Thoth

Meet the gods of Egypt • Almost 1,500 deities are known by name and many of them combine with each other and share characteristics. Here are some of the most important

Crowley’s Thoth tarot deck

The four elements • We reveal the intricate and multifaceted nature of a concept key to the philosophy and practice of alchemy

The three principles • How sulphur, mercury and salt became a fundamental part of the practice and theory of alchemy

The seven classical planets • Ancient alchemists incorporated the seven classical planets into their studies, noting that each planet held power over a specific classical metal

Transmutation • How the search for the hidden formula to create gold preoccupied alchemists across the ages

Symbols and secrets • Decoding the mysterious signs and symbols that alchemists used to hide their greatest secrets

Mothers of alchemy • Alchemy and the exploration of hermetical ideas was far from just the province of men; two women in particular were among the earliest alchemical practitioners

Zosimus of Panopolis • Was Zosimus the first authentic alchemist of Western tradition and the author of the oldest alchemical works?

The Islamic Golden Age • After the fall of the Roman Empire, Islam began to flourish, and brought about a new wave of advancements in medicine, philosophy, alchemy and more…

Age of gold

The legend of Calid • Whether...