The Hermetic Museum, Volume I (c. 1893) - Arthur Edward Waite

A cabinet of hidden wisdom, guarded by dragons, crowned serpents, mysterious marriages and the promise of the Philosopher's Stone.

First published in Latin in 1678 and brought into English in 1893, The Hermetic Museum, Restored and Enlarged is one of the great treasuries of historical alchemical writing. This is Volume I of the English edition, edited by Arthur Edward Waite, gathering eleven extraordinary sections of Hermetic philosophy, symbolic tales and the ancient pursuit of transformation.

Within its pages, metals are imagined growing in the womb of the Earth; the Sun and Moon become partners in a cosmic marriage; and the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone are concealed beneath a language of lions, dragons, eagles, kings, queens and resurrection. Strange as these images may seem, they form a richly interconnected symbolic world that fascinated generations of alchemists.

Within these pages

• The Golden Tract: an enigmatic exploration of the Stone of the Philosophers.
• The Golden Age Restored: an allegorical journey through renewal and transformation.
• The Sophic Hydrolith: the mysterious Water Stone of the Wise.
• The Glory of the World: a grand account of the ancient art and its sacred inheritance.
• The Book of Lambspring: unforgettable animal imagery and alchemical symbolism.
• The Golden Tripod: writings associated with Basil Valentine and the celebrated Twelve Keys.

Beautifully strange and steeped in centuries of mystery, this volume is an essential addition to any collection devoted to alchemy, Hermeticism, esoteric philosophy, early chemistry and the symbolism of nature. Its historic illustrations and diagrams make it as compelling to explore as it is to read.

Book details

Title: The Hermetic Museum, Restored and Enlarged — Volume I
Editor: Arthur Edward Waite
English edition: 1893
Earlier Latin collection: 1678
Publisher: James Elliott and Co., London
Length: 377 scanned PDF pages
Format: Digital PDF facsimile
Language: English
Collection: Hearthwise Historical Library