Two Alchemical Abodes: On the fringe of Science and History

Two Alchemical Abodes is reminiscent of Fulcanelli's Mystery of the Cathedrals and Dwellings of the Philosophers. In his unique periphrastic way, Canseliet here delights the reader with his observation on another two dwellings that must have belonged to alchemists: The castle of Plessis-Bourré and the Villa of Palombara of which now only the remarkable Alchemical Door remains. Submerge yourself in the fantastic world of the philosophers of old and prepare to enter an uncharted realm of wonder. Downloaded from z-lib.org Foreword 6 PART 1 THE PALOMBARA VILLA IN ROME 2 PRELIMINARY REMARKS 13 THE MONUMENT AT VICTOR-EMMANUEL SQUARE 17 THE OUTER INSCRIPTION 19 THE SMALL DOORWAY 31 CHRISTINA, QUEEN OF SWEDEN, G. F. BORRI AND THE HERB OF TRANSMUTATION 34 MATTER AND SPIRIT 38 SATURN OF THE PHILOSOPHERS AND ITS PURIFICATION 41 THE CONVERSION OF ELEMENTS 44 THE HOMUNCULUS OR THE SON OF MAN 51 ALCHEMY AND MAGIC 54 THE PHILOSOPHER’S DEW AND THE GOLDEN FLEECE 59 THE MINERAL TRINITY AND THE PHILOSOPHICAL SECRET 64 WISDOM AND NOBILITY 69 ODON AND MASSIMILIANO PALOMBARA 72 THE LADY OF THE PHILOSOPHERS 74 THE SHORT PATH 76 THE ETERNAL TRUTH 80 PART 2 THE CASTLE OF PLESSIS-BOURRE 82 JEAN BOURRÉE 84 THE PAINTINGS OF THE GUARD’S ROOM 110 THE TWO RAMS 113 THE BEAR AND THE TWO MONKEYS 117 THE DONKEY SAYING MASS 120 THE SUBMISSIVE STAG 125 THE INDECENT FOUNTAIN 128 THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE DRAGON AND THE LION 131 THE YOUNG GIRL AND THE LARGE TAILED TORTOISE 135 THE SOW MUSICIAN 141 THE DARK AND PREGNANT MERMAID 145 THE FLYING CHARIOT AND ITS FEMININE GUIDE 150 THE PHOENIX 156 THE TWO DOGS 160 THE CENTAUR 164 THE ANGUIPED AND THE SPINSTER 168 THE ELEPHANT AND THE MONKEY 172 THE UNICORN 175 EPILOGUE 180 Notes 184