(Saffrey 1995: 6). The work (CAAG 2.395–421) consists of 30 chapters, with commentary,
following the early authors (-H, Z, -D) on pre-
cise themes and questions. Berthelot (CAAG 3.381) notes that this compilation follows the
general system adopted by the Byzantines of the 8th and 10th centuries (e.g., Pho ̄tios and
Constantine VII Pophurogenne ̄tos), which consisted of drawing extracts and summaries
from early authors. This method, although conserving fragments, also dismembered texts.
Berthelot (CAAG 3.380) gives a comparative table of the chapters in different MSS and their
distribution in his edition.
The author’s fragments essentially concern the idea of the “divine water” and the sci-
ence’s methodology and its operations. As with S and other commentators, the
obscurity of the language of the ancients is explained as having the double goal of fooling
the jealous and training the minds of the adepts. The author insists upon the apparent
discord of the ancients regarding the names for the “divine water” and especially about the
meaning of its unity. As Zo ̄simos had already done, this author wanted to demonstrate the
fundamental accord among the authors as to the unity of kind of the “divine water.” In
particular, he shows that pseudo-De ̄mokritos speaks in general of a unique kind, and Zo ̄si-
mos speaks of multiple material kinds. In reality, all multiplicity leads to the one unity.
Some reflections concern the method. Distinctions of materials and treatments show the
influence of the descriptions of states of physical bodies (liquids, solids, compounds) and
processes of transformations (cooking, melting, decomposition by fire or by liquids) from
A, Meteor. 4. The treatments (oikonomiai) are compared to plane geometrical fig-
ures, recalling P’s Timaios and the work of S. Finally, the author applies the
“dialectic” method of dividing and reuniting by species and genera (originating with Plato)
to explain the operations, for clarity.
Ed.: CAAG 2.395–421.
CAAG 3.378–382; Letrouit (1995) 2; Saffrey (1995) 6.
Cristina Viano
Anonymous Alchemist Philosopher (600 – 800 CE?)
Berthelot collected the writings attributed to the “Anonymous Philosopher” into three works:
On Divine Water, On the Gold-making Procedure, and On Music and Alchemy (CAAG 2.421–
441); sometimes split into two persons, the first and second Anonymous (Letrouit 1995).
Our author offers one of the oldest lists of alchemists: he summarizes the A
A “C”, mentions H T, -D,
S, Z, I A, and then “the famous ecumenical
philosophers, the commentators on P and A, who employed dialectic,
O and S” (CAAG 2.425).
In particular, the Anonymous examines the mixture of substances using liquids, and
without fire, of which Olumpiodo ̄ros also speaks (CAAG 2.426). He is influenced by the
Aristotelian theory of mixture, the basic composition of all natural bodies (CAAG 2.439).
The Anonymous establishes a curious methodological analogy between musical instruments
and the parts of alchemical science.
Ed.: CAAG 2.421–441.
CAAG 3.378–382; Letrouit (1995) 63–64; Saffrey (1995) 6.
Cristina Viano
ANONYMOUS ALCHEMIST PHILOSOPHER