Gianfrancesco, L. (2018) Books, Gold, and Elixir: Alchemy and Religious Orders in Early Modern Naples. Ambix, 65 (3). pp. 250-274. ISSN 1745-8234
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Abstract
In the early modern period Naples was a European centre of learning where a number of scholars engaged with alchemy. Variously perceived as a legitimate scientific practice or as a mendacious trick for gullible minds, alchemy engaged Neapolitan scholars in an ongoing dispute that involved members of the clergy. In this article I consider convents as research centres mainly engaged with medical alchemy. Specifically, I reconstruct the activity of the Dominican friar Tommaso d’Eremita. Upon his arrival at the Neapolitan convent of Santa Caterina a Formello in 1609, d’Eremita set up a laboratory where he spent years working on alchemical procedures in order to produce an elixir of life for the benefit of all. Beyond this charitable mission, I argue that members of religious orders in Naples engaged with alchemy for different purposes. In so doing, I discuss the cases of some members of religious orders in Naples who practised chrysopoeia with the aim of producing artificial noble metals.
Publication Type: | Articles |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | History and Philosophy of Science, Chemistry (miscellaneous) |
Subjects: | A General Works > AZ History of Scholarship The Humanities B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D204 Modern History D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D901 Europe (General) Q Science > Q Science (General) |
Divisions: | Academic Areas > Institute of Arts and Humanities > History |
Related URLs: | |
SWORD Depositor: | Publications Router Jisc |
Depositing User: | Publications Router Jisc |
Date Deposited: | 11 Oct 2018 14:20 |
Last Modified: | 29 Mar 2021 10:21 |
URI: | https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/3818 |