"An Alchemical Storytelling Lab with Fuad Halwani

A story can begin with an image that stays with us, a song that awakens a memory, or a sentence we cannot quite let go of.

Join Lebanese screenwriter, media producer, and researcher Fuad Halwani at Casa Palestina for an eight-week exploration of storytelling, imagination, and transformation."


https://casapalestina.pt/events/nasjal-k...elling-lab

"Under the general rubric of “the afterlife of alchemy,” I have conducted research from February to August 2026 at four archival libraries with a Consortium fellowship.  As a literary scholar, my object has been to study the history of modern chemistry, a relatively unfamiliar topic both for myself and eighteenth-century British literary and cultural studies,"

https://www.chstm.org/news/afterlife-alc...ightenment

Discover Pinterest’s best ideas and inspiration for Spiritual alchemy artwork. Be inspired and try out new things.

https://www.pinterest.com/ideas/spiritua...774973683/

Discover the complete Plume Charmers collection. Beautifully crafted bilingual readers and historical texts designed to take you from beginner to confident reader. Choose your book below and start reading today.

https://www.nicolaspierredalone.com/

Discover the early modern world of texts and images here!

http://emblematica.library.illinois.edu/

Amphitheatrum Sapientiae Aeternae (https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=%2Fg...e+Aeternae) (Amphitheatre of Eternal Wisdom) is a classic 16th- and 17th-century alchemical and theosophical treatise written by German physician and alchemist Heinrich Khunrath (1560–1605). [1] (https://www.library.wisc.edu/specialcoll...rnae-1595/), [2] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slS3CDlfp2o&t=12), [3] (https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/items/91...6/data.pdf)

Key Details:

• Full Title: Amphitheatrum Sapientiae Aeternae, Solius Verae, Christiano-Kabalisticum, Divino-Magicum, nec non Physico-Chymicum, Tertriunum, Catholicon [1] (https://archive.org/details/BIUSante_pharma_res005272)
• Author: Heinrich Khunrath [1] (https://archive.org/details/BIUSante_pharma_res005272)
• Publication History:
• First published in a rare 4-plate edition in Hamburg in 1595.
• Expanded and published posthumously (edited by Erasmus Wohlfahrt) in Hanau in 1609 (with title page dated 1602), featuring nine detailed double-paged copperplate engravings. [1] (https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/dodh36q), [2] (https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6382769), [3] (https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/...pdYQ?hl=en), [4] (https://dpul.princeton.edu/alchemy/catalog/wm117v989), [5] (https://www.library.wisc.edu/specialcoll...rnae-1595/)
• Core Themes: Combines Christian Cabala, divine magic, Paracelsian medicine, and physical-chemical alchemy into a mystical "Ladder of Seven Orthodox Grades". [1] (https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6382769), [2] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slS3CDlfp2o&t=12)
• Famous Artwork: Best known for its intricate circular engravings, particularly the famous "Oratory/Laboratory" plate showing an alchemist alternating between prayer and experimentation. [1] (https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/m039k491c), [2] (https://dpul.princeton.edu/alchemy/catalog/wm117v989), [3] (https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/items/91...6/data.pdf)
• Historical Reception: Condemned by the Sorbonne in 1625 for its blend of magic and Christianity, it is now studied widely by historians of science and occult philosophy. You can explore digitized copies via the Science History Institute Digital Collections or the Internet Archive. [1] (https://www.library.wisc.edu/specialcoll...rnae-1595/), [2] (https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/dodh36q), [3] (https://archive.org/details/BIUSante_pharma_res005272)

[Matthäus Merian the Elder](https://www.google.com/search?q=matth%C3...d=/m/0x8sy) (22 September 1593 – 19 June 1650) was a prominent Swiss-born Baroque engraver, etcher, and publisher who became the leading German illustrator of the 17th century. He is celebrated for his highly detailed architectural cityscapes, masterfully executed town plans, and landmark geographical publications. [1, 2, 3] 

## ? Early Life and Career:
Born into the patrician Merian family in Basel, Switzerland, he initially trained in glass painting before studying engraving and etching under Dietrich Meyer in Zürich. After periods of work and study across Europe—including Nancy, Paris, Strasbourg, and Stuttgart—he moved to Frankfurt, Germany. [2, 3, 4, 5]
In 1617, he married Maria Magdalena de Bry, the daughter of the well-known publisher Johann Theodor de Bry. Following his father-in-law's death in 1623, Merian took over the de Bry publishing house in Frankfurt, later securing independent citizenship there in 1626. [1, 3]
## ? Major Works and Legacy
Merian's studio grew into a major artistic hub, even training renowned creators like the Bohemian etcher Wenzel Hollar. His historical and documentary legacy is anchored by several monumental works: [2]

* Topographia Germaniae: Created alongside author Martin Zeiler, this massive 16-volume compilation contains over 2,000 highly precise architectural prints of European cities and towns. It stands as one of the earliest comprehensive geographical guidebooks. [6]
* Theatrum Europaeum: A landmark multi-volume series detailing the political and military events of Europe, providing a critical visual and textual record of the ongoing Thirty Years' War. [6, 7]
* Grand and Petits Voyages: Merian completed and expanded upon the massive travel and discovery series (Collectiones Peregrinationum in Indiam) originally launched by the de Bry family. [1, 2]
* Artistic Illustrations: He produced highly sought-after illustrations for the Lutheran Bible, alongside intricate, symbolic engravings for alchemical treatises like the Musaeum Hermeticum and Atalanta Fugiens. [1, 6]

## ? Family and Successors:
Merian passed away in Bad Schwalbach after a long illness in 1650. His business was passed down to his heirs under the name Merian Erben, continuing operations until a devastating fire destroyed it in 1726. [1, 2, 8]
His legacy also survived through his extraordinarily talented children: [1]

* [Matthäus Merian the Younger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matth%C3%A...he_Younger) (1621–1687): A highly successful portrait painter and publisher who helped manage the family business.
* Caspar Merian (1627–1686): An engraver who also assisted in continuing his father's topographical print projects.
* [Maria Sibylla Merian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Sibylla_Merian) (1647–1717): Born from his second marriage to Johanna Sibylla Heim, she became one of history's most celebrated naturalists, scientific illustrators, and entomologists. [1, 8, 9, 10, 11]

[1] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matth%C3%A..._the_Elder)
[2] [https://www.britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mat...-the-Elder)
[3] [https://raremaps.com](https://raremaps.com/mapmaker/374)
[4] [https://artsandculture.google.com](https://artsandculture.google.com/entity...x8sy?hl=en)
[5] [https://www.kettererkunst.com](https://www.kettererkunst.com/bio/mattha...n-1593.php)
[6] [https://hatjecantz.com](https://hatjecantz.com/products/17313-ma...merian-dae)
[7] [https://www.encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/e...n-matthaus)
[8] [https://fr.wikipedia.org](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matth%C3%A4us_Merian)
[9] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matth%C3%A...he_Younger)
[10] [https://www.britishmuseum.org](https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG38185)
[11] [https://www.royalacademy.org.uk](https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-arti...aus-merian)

[Atalanta Fugiens](https://www.google.com/search?q=atalanta...m/011lfg0k) (translated as Atalanta Fleeing) is a famous early modern alchemical emblem book published in 1617 by the German physician, alchemist, and counselor Michael Maier. It is widely celebrated as one of the earliest and most intricate examples of multimedia art, uniquely designed to simultaneously engage the reader's eyes, ears, and intellect. [1, 2, 3] 

## The Structure & Core Themes:
The book uses the ancient Greek myth of Atalanta and Hippomenes—reconstructed from Ovid's Metamorphoses—as an extended allegory for the chemical steps required to create the Philosopher's Stone. In the myth, the swift huntress Atalanta agrees to marry only the suitor who can outrun her; Hippomenes wins by dropping three golden apples provided by Venus to distract and slow her down. [2, 4]
Maier structures this allegory into 50 distinct emblems, each containing a cohesive set of elements: [1]


* The Visuals: Masterfully detailed copperplate engravings crafted by the renowned artist [Matthäus Merian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matth%C3%A4us_Merian).
* The Text: Epigrammatic verses and structured prose discourses written in Latin to explain the hidden alchemical secrets within the images.
* The Music: A three-voice musical canon or "fugue" corresponding to each emblem. [1, 2, 5, 6]

## The Alchemical Fugues:
The inclusion of musical notation makes Atalanta Fugiens truly singular. Within the score, the three voices represent the three main components of the myth and their corresponding alchemical principles: [4, 5, 6, 7]

  1. Atalanta: Represents Mercury (the volatile element). This musical voice constantly "flees" ahead in the canon.
  2. Hippomenes: Represents Sulfur (the fixed element). This musical voice always follows behind in pursuit.
  3. The Golden Apple: Represents Salt. This voice plays a steady cantus firmus (a fixed, recurring melody), serving as the foundational anchor for the other two voices. [4]

## Modern Adaptations:
Because of its multidisciplinary nature, the text translates remarkably well to modern interactive formats. For those looking to study or experience the book today, the digital project [Furnace and Fugue](https://furnaceandfugue.org/) serves as an open-access web resource where you can freely view the digitized pages, read scholarly commentaries, and listen to high-quality audio recordings of all 50 companion fugues. [3, 8]

[1] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atalanta_Fugiens)
[2] [https://blogs.kent.ac.uk](https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/memsnews/2025/0...llections/)
[3] [https://www.upress.virginia.edu](https://www.upress.virginia.edu/furnace-and-fugue/)
[4] [https://lescanardschantants.com](https://lescanardschantants.com/atalanta-fugiens/)
[5] [https://www.alchemywebsite.com](https://www.alchemywebsite.com/atalanta.html)
[6] [https://www.youtube.com](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svxpxE-C8Ko)
[7] [https://digital.sciencehistory.org](https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/pc289j53n)
[8] https://furnaceandfugue.org

[Isaac Baulot](https://www.google.com/search?q=isaac+ba...11jghn2t0h) (1619–1693) was a French apothecary and scholar from La Rochelle, best known as the primary creator behind the famous 1677 alchemical text, Mutus Liber (The Silent Book). [1, 2] 

The Mastermind of Mutus Liber:
The Mutus Liber is a landmark piece of Hermetic philosophy that outlines a method for manufacturing the Philosopher's Stone through a series of 15 mystical illustrations, completely devoid of text. [1, 3]
Because alchemical practices were highly controversial and heavily monitored by authorities, Baulot published the book using complex pseudonyms and anagrams: [2]
* Altus & Jacob Saulat: The book was originally credited to "Altus" (meaning high or profound) or "Jacob Saulat".
* Oculatus Abis: On the final plate of the book, a Latin phrase reads "Oculatus Abis" ("You depart with eyes open"), which historical research has revealed is an exact anagram for Isaac Baulot. [1, 2]

Life and Conflict in La Rochelle
Born on September 23, 1619, to an influential surgeon, Baulot became a highly skilled pharmacist. However, his career was marked by deep religious and professional conflicts. The ruling local pharmaceutical guild (Communauté pharmaceutique), which was tightly controlled by Catholic authorities, subjected him to multiple legal proceedings and initially barred him from operating a shop under his own name. [2]
Despite these obstacles, Baulot’s work endured, with his plates later studied heavily by historical scholars, occultists, and psychologist [Carl Jung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Jung), who analyzed the illustrations for psychological archetypes and spiritual equilibrium. [1]

[1] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutus_Liber)
[2] [https://it.wikipedia.org](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutus_liber)
[3] [https://fr.pinterest.com](https://fr.pinterest.com/pin/519251032020027614/)

Including a Flamel limited edition...

https://tinyurl.com/k4errufx