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{{Short description|none}}
[[File:Prophetissa.jpg|thumb|right|Depiction of [[Mary the Jewess]], considered the first non-fictitious Western alchemist. From [[Michael Maier]]'s ''Symbola Aurea Mensae Duodecim Nationum'' (1617)]]
[[File:Mary the jewess by Michael Maier.jpg|thumb|right|Depiction of [[Mary the Jewess]], considered the first non-fictitious Western alchemist. From [[Michael Maier]]'s ''Symbola Aurea MensaeDuodecim Nationum'' (1617)]]
An '''alchemist''' is a person versed in the art of [[alchemy]]. Western alchemy flourished in [[Egypt (Roman province)|Greco-Roman Egypt]], the [[Islamic Golden Age|Islamic world]] during the [[Middle Ages]], and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries. [[Rasayana|Indian alchemists]] and [[Chinese alchemy|Chinese alchemists]] made contributions to Eastern varieties of the art. Alchemy is still practiced today by a few, and alchemist characters still appear in recent fictional works and video games.
An '''alchemist''' is a person versed in the art of [[alchemy]]. Western alchemy flourished in [[Egypt (Roman province)|Greco-Roman Egypt]], the [[Islamic Golden Age|Islamic world]] during the [[Middle Ages]], and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries. [[Rasayana|Indian alchemists]] and [[Chinese alchemy|Chinese alchemists]] made contributions to Eastern varieties of the art. Alchemy is still practiced today by a few, and alchemist characters still appear in recent fictional works and video games.


A large number of alchemists are known from the thousands of surviving alchemical manuscripts and books. Some of their names are listed below. Due to the tradition of [[pseudepigraphy]], the true author of some alchemical writings may differ from the name most often associated with that work. Some well-known historical figures such as [[Albertus Magnus]] and [[Aristotle]] are often incorrectly named amongst the alchemists as a result.
Many alchemists are known from the thousands of surviving alchemical manuscripts and books. Some of their names are listed below. Due to the tradition of [[pseudepigraphy]], the true author of some alchemical writings may differ from the name most often associated with that work. Some well-known historical figures such as [[Albertus Magnus]] and [[Aristotle]] are often incorrectly named amongst the alchemists as a result.
{{Dynamic list}}

==Legendary alchemists==
==Legendary==
*[[Anqi Sheng]]
*[[Hermes Trismegistus]]
*[[Hermes Trismegistus]]
*[[Ostanes]], the [[Persian people|Persian]]
*[[Ostanes]]
*[[Nicolas Flamel]]
*[[Perenelle Flamel]]
*[[Christian Rosenkreuz]]
*[[Abraham Eleazar]]


==Alchemists in Greco-Roman Egypt==
==Greco-Roman Egypt==
{{Columns-list|2|
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Agathodaemon (alchemist)|Agathodaemon]]
* [[Chymes]]
* [[Cleopatra the Alchemist]]
* [[Mary the Jewess]]
* [[Mary the Jewess]]
* [[Moses of Alexandria]]
* [[Olympiodorus of Thebes]] (c. 400)
* [[Paphnutia the Virgin]] (c. 300)
* [[Pseudo-Aristotle]]
* [[Pseudo-Democritus]]
* [[Pseudo-Democritus]]
* [[Agathodaimon]]
* [[Zosimos of Panopolis]] (ca. 300 AD)
* [[Olympiodorus of Thebes]] (ca. 400)
* [[Cleopatra the Alchemist]]
* [[Pseudo-Aristotle]]
* Pseudo-Plato
* [[Stephen of Alexandria]]
* [[Stephen of Alexandria]]
* [[Zosimos of Panopolis]] (c. 300)
}}
}}


==India==
==Indian alchemists==
* [[Kanada]], sage and philosopher (6th century BC)
* [[Kanada (philosopher)|Kanada]], sage and philosopher (6th century BC)
* [[Nagarjuna]], the 10th century South Indian king
* [[Nagarjuna (metallurgist)|Nagarjuna]] (born 931)
* [[Vemana|Yogi Vemana]]
* [[Vemana|Yogi Vemana]]
* [[Siddhar]] [[Tamils|Tamil]] sage and philosophers
* [[Nayanmars]] Tamil sage and philosophers
* [[Alvars]] Tamil sage and philosophers
* [[Vallalar]], Tamil 18th Century sage and philosopher
* [[Arunagirinathar]] Tamil 15th Century sage and philosopher
* [[Agastiyar]] Tamil Sage
* [[Korakkar]] Tamil Sage
* [[Thirumoolar]] Tamil Sage
* [[Bogar]] Tamil Sage
* [[Kagapujandar]] Tamil Sage
* [[Vaalmiki]] Tamil Sage
* [[Pattinathar]] Tamil Sage
* [[Kalangi Nathar]] Tamil Sage
* [[Pathanjali]] Tamil Sage
* [[Naradhar]]


==China==
==Chinese alchemists==
*[[Kong Anguo]] (ca. 156 – ca. 74 BC)
*[[Keng Hsien-Seng]] (circa A.D. 975)
*[[Ge Hong]]/ Ko Hong (283–343)
*[[Jiajing Emperor]] (1507 – 1567)
*[[Liu Yiming]] (1734–1821)
*[[Pao Ku Ko]] (third century A.D.)
*[[Shen Yu Hsiu]] (15th century)
*[[Sun Pu-Eh]] (12th century)
*[[Sun Simiao]] (died 682)
*[[Tao Hongjing]] (456–536)
*[[Wei Boyang]]
*[[Wei Boyang]]
*[[Elder Zhang Guo|Zhang Guo the Elder]] (ca. 600)
*[[Xu Fu]] (255 BC- 210 BC)
*[[Elder Zhang Guo|Zhang Guo the Elder]] (c. 600)
*[[Zou Yan]] (305 BC – 240 BC)


==Islamic alchemists==
==Arabic-Islamic world==
{{Further|Alchemy and chemistry in medieval Islam|:Category:Alchemists of medieval Islam}}
{{further|Alchemy and chemistry in medieval Islam}}
*[[Khalid ibn Yazid]], known in Latin as Calid (died 704)

*[[Jabir ibn Hayyan]], known in Latin as Geber (died {{circa|806}}–816)
*[[Calid|Khalid ibn Yazid]], "Calid" (d. 704)
*[[Harbi al-Himyari]] (c. 7th–8th centuries)
*[[Dhu al-Nun al-Misri]] (born 796)
*[[Ja'far al-Sadiq]] (702–765)
*[[Abu Bakr al-Razi]] ({{circa|865}}–925 or 935)
*[[Ibn Umayl]], known in Latin as Senior Zadith ({{circa|900}}–960)
*[[Jābir ibn Hayyān]], "Geber" (c. 721–815)
*[[Al-Baladhuri]] (d. 892)
*[[al-Tughrai]] (1061–1121)
*[[Al-Farabi]], "Alfarabi" (870–950/951)
*[[Al-Kindi]], "Alkindus" (801–873), critic of alchemy
*[[Abbas Ibn Firnas]] (810–887)
*[[Ibn Umail]] (c. 900)
*[[Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi]], "Rhazes" (864 – 930)
*[[Brethren of Purity]] (c. 10th century)
*[[Jābir ibn Hayyān|Pseudo-Jabir]] (c. 10th century)
*[[Maslama al-Majriti]] (d. 1007/1008)
*[[Maslama al-Majriti|Pseudo-Majriti]] (c. 1009)
*[[Abū Rayḥān al-Bīrūnī]] (973–1048)
*[[Avicenna|Abu Ali al-Husain ibn Abdallah ibn Sina]], "Avicenna" (980–1037), critic of alchemy, father of modern medicine
*[[Al-Tughrai]] (1061–1121)
*[[Al-Khazini]] (fl. 1115–1130)
*[[Artephius]] (c. 1150)
*[[Artephius]] (c. 1150)
*[[Abu al-Abbas al-Nabati]] (1166–1239)
*[[al-Jildaki]], also written al-Jaldaki (died 1342)
*[[Ibn al-Baitar]] (1197–1248)
*[[Nasir al-Din al-Tusi]] (1201–1274)
*[[Abu' l-Qasim al-Iraqi]] (c. 1300)
*[[Ibn Rassam]] (c. 13th/14th century)
*[[Al-Jaldaki]] (d. 1342)
*[[Abul Ashba ibn Tammam]] (d. 1361)


==Europe==
==European alchemists==
{{Columns-list|2|
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*[[Alain de Lille]] (Born from 1115 to 1128 – died in 1202(1203?))
*[[Alain de Lille]] (1115/1128–1202/1203)
*[[Albertus Magnus]] (1193–1280)
*[[Albertus Magnus]] (1193–1280)
*[[Roger Bacon]] (1214–1294)
*[[Roger Bacon]] (1214–1294)
*[[Pseudo-Geber]] ([[Spain]], 13th century)
*[[Pseudo-Geber]] (13th/14th century)
*[[Ramon Llull| Ramon Llull (Raymond Lulli)]] (1235–1315)
*[[Ramon Llull| Ramon Llull (Raymond Lulli)]] (1235–1315)
*[[Pope John XXII]] (1249–1334)
*[[John Dastin]] (early 14th)
*[[John Dastin]] (early 14th)
*[[Arnold of Villanova]] (1245 – ?(before 1311))
*[[Arnold of Villanova]] (1245–?(before 1311))
*[[Jean de Meung]] (c.1250 – c.1305)
*[[Jean de Meung]] (c.1250–c.1305)
*[[Petrus Bonus]] (Early 14th century)
*[[Petrus Bonus]] (Early 14th century)
*[[Ortolanus]] or Hortulanus (fl. 1358)
*[[Jean de Roquetaillade]] (Johannes de Rupescissa) (died 1336)
*[[Gilles de Rais]] (1401–1440)
*[[Gilles de Rais]] (1401–1440)
*[[Bernard Trevisan| Bernard Trevisan (Bernard of Treves)]] (1406–1490)
*[[Bernard Trevisan| Bernard Trevisan (Bernard of Treves)]] (1406–1490)
*[[Nicholas Flamel]] (1320-1418)
*[[Johann of Laz]] (15th century)
*[[George Ripley (Alchemist)|George Ripley]] ([[England]], 15th century)
*[[George Ripley (Alchemist)|George Ripley]] ([[England]], 15th century)
*[[Thomas Norton (alchemist)|Thomas Norton]] (c. 1433-c. 1513)
*[[Thomas Norton (alchemist)|Thomas Norton]] (c. 1433–c. 1513)
*[[Johannes Trithemius]] (1462–1516)
*[[Johannes Trithemius]] (1462–1516)
*[[Johann Georg Faust]] (ca. 1480–1540)
*[[Johann Georg Faust]] (ca. 1480–1540)
*[[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] (1486–1535)
*[[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] (1486–1535)
*[[Paracelsus]] (1493–1541)
*[[Paracelsus]] (1493–1541)
*[[Nicolas Flamel]] (15th century)
*[[Thomas Charnock]] (1516/1524/1526–1581)
*[[Thomas Charnock]] (1516/1524/1526–1581)
*[[François Hotman]] (1524–1590)
*[[François Hotman]] (1524–1590)
*[[John Dee]] (1527–1609)
*[[John Dee]] (1527–1609)
*[[Gerhard Dorn]] (c. 1530–1584)
*[[Gerhard Dorn]] (c. 1530–1584)
*[[Martin Ruland the Elder]] (1532-1602)
*[[Martin Ruland the Elder]] (1532–1602)
*[[Richard Stanihurst]] (1547–1618)
*[[Richard Stanihurst]] (1547–1618)
*[[Tycho Brahe]] (1546–1601)
*[[Tycho Brahe]] (1546–1601)
*[[Samuel Norton (alchemist)|Samuel Norton]] (1548–1621)
*[[Edward Kelley]] (1555–1597)
*[[Edward Kelley]] (1555–1597)
*[[Basilius Valentinus| Basilius Valentinus (Basil Valentine)]] (16/17th century)
*[[Basilius Valentinus| Basilius Valentinus (Basil Valentine)]] (16/17th century)
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*[[Oswald Croll]] (circa 1563-1609)
*[[Oswald Croll]] (circa 1563-1609)
*[[Melchior Cibinensis]] (16th century)
*[[Melchior Cibinensis]] (16th century)
*[[Jean D'Espagnet]] (1564–c. 1637)
*[[Michal Sedziwoj|Michał Sędziwój]] (1566–1636)
*[[Michael Sendivogius]]/Michael Sędziwój (1566–1636)
*[[Benedictus Figulus]] (born 1567)
*[[Michael Maier]] (1568–1622)
*[[Michael Maier]] (1568–1622)
*[[Martin Ruland the Younger]] (1569 – 1611)
*[[Martin Ruland the Younger]] (1569–1611)
*[[Jacob Boehme]] (1575–1624)
*[[Jacob Boehme]] (1575–1624)
*[[Jan Baptist van Helmont]] (1577–1644)
*[[Jan Baptist van Helmont]] (1577–1644)
*[[Arthur Dee]] (1579–1651)
*[[Arthur Dee]] (1579–1651)
*[[Johann Daniel Mylius]] (c. 1583-1642)
*[[Johann Daniel Mylius]] (c. 1583–1642)
*[[Johannes Valentinus Andreae]] (17 August 1586–27 June 1654)
*[[William Backhouse]] (1593 – 1662)
*[[Johann Moriaen]] (1591–1668)
*[[Baro Urbigerus]]
*[[William Backhouse]] (1593–1662)
*[[Baro Urbigerus]] (17th century)
*[[Ali Puli]] (17th century)
*[[Ali Puli]] (17th century)
*[[Daniel Stolz von Stolzenberg]] (Daniel Stolcius) (1600–1660)
*[[Daniel Stolz von Stolzenberg]] (Daniel Stolcius) (1600–1660)
*[[Johannes Nicolaus Furichius]] (1602-1633)
*[[Johannes Nicolaus Furichius]] (1602–1633)
*[[Edward Dyer]] (d. 1607)
*[[Edward Dyer]] (died 1607)
*[[Basset Jhones]] (born 1613)
*[[Elias Ashmole]] (1617–1692)
*[[Elias Ashmole]] (1617–1692)
*[[Thomas Henshaw (alchemist)|Thomas Henshaw]] (1618–1700)
*[[Thomas Henshaw (alchemist)|Thomas Henshaw]] (1618–1700)
*[[Thomas Vaughan (philosopher)|Thomas Vaughan]] (Eugenius Philalethes) (1621–1666)
*[[Edmund Dickinson]] (1624–1707)
*[[Edmund Dickinson]] (1624–1707)
*[[Johann Friedrich Schweitzer]] (1625–1709)
*[[Johann Friedrich Schweitzer]] (1625–1709)
*[[Frederick Clod]] (born 1625)
*[[Giuseppe Francesco Borri]] (1627–1695)
*[[Giuseppe Francesco Borri]] (1627–1695)
*[[Robert Boyle]] (1627–1691)
*[[Robert Boyle]] (1627–1691)
*[[George Starkey (alchemist)]] (1628–1665)
*[[George Starkey (alchemist)]] (Eirenaeus Philalethes) (1628–1665)
**[[Eirenaeus Philalethes]]
*[[Hening Brand]] (c.1630–1710)
*[[Hening Brand]] (c.1630–1710)
*[[Johann Kunckel]] (1630–1703)
*[[Johann Kunckel]] (1630–1703)
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*[[Claude Duval]] (1643–1670)
*[[Claude Duval]] (1643–1670)
*[[Dionysius Andreas Freher]] (1649–1728)
*[[Dionysius Andreas Freher]] (1649–1728)
*[[Georg von Welling]] (1652-1727)
*[[Georg von Welling]] (1652–1727)
*[[Anton Josef Kirchweger]] ((d.1746))
*[[Johann Konrad Dippel]] (1673 – 1734)
*[[Comte de Saint Germain]] (1691 - 1784)
*[[Anton Josef Kirchweger]] (died 1746)
*[[Alessandro Cagliostro]] (1743–1795)
*[[Alessandro Cagliostro]] (1743–1795)
*[[James Price (chemist)|James Price]] (1752–1783)
*[[James Price (chemist)|James Price]] (1752–1783)
*[[Count of St Germain]] (d. 1784)
*[[Johann Christoph von Wöllner]] (1732–1800)
*[[Johann Christoph von Wöllner]] (1732–1800)
*[[August Nordenskiold]] (1754–1792)
*[[August Strindberg]] (1849–1912)
*[[August Strindberg]] (1849–1912)
*[[Franz Tausend]] (1884–1942)
*[[Giuliano Kremmerz]] (1861–1930)
*[[Fulcanelli]] (pseudonym; dates unknown: Late 19th century – early 20th.)
}}
}}


==Revival and modern alchemists==
==Revival and modern==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|

*[[Johann Georg Rapp]] (1757–1847)
*[[Mary Anne Atwood]] (1817–1910)
*[[Rudolf von Sebottendorf]] (1875–1945)
*[[Oscar Vladislas de Lubicz-Milosz|Oscar Vladislas de Lubicz Milosz]] (1877–1939)
*[[R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz]] (1887–1961)
*[[Eugène Canseliet]] (1899–1982)
*[[Fulcanelli]] (pseudonym; dates unknown: Late 19th century–early 20th century)
*[[Franz Bardon]] (1909–1958)
*[[Frater Albertus]] (Dr. Albert Reidel) (1911–1984)
*[[Frater Albertus]] (Dr. Albert Reidel) (1911–1984)
*[[Eugène Canseliet]] (1899–1982)
*[[Jean Dubuis]] (1919–2010)
*[[Jean Dubuis]] (1919–2010)
*[[Marie-Louise von Franz]] (1915–1998)
*[[Terrence McKenna]] (1946–2000)
*[[Terrence McKenna]] (1946–2000)
*[[Diane Di Prima]] (1932 – )
*[[Franz Tausend]] (1884–1942)
}}


==Fictional alchemists==
==Scholars of alchemy==
{{Columns-list|2|
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*[[Robert of Chester]] (12th century)
*[[Giambattista della Porta]] (1535-1615)
*[[Ethan A. Hitchcock (general)]] (1798–1870)
*[[Marcellin Berthelot]] (1827–1907)
*[[M. M. Pattison Muir]] (1848–1931)
*[[F. Sherwood Taylor]] (1857–1956)
*[[Edmund Oscar von Lippmann]] (1857–1940)
*[[Arthur Edward Waite]] (1857–1942)
*[[Richard Wilhelm (sinologist)]] (1873–1930)
*[[Carl Jung]] (1875–1961)
*[[Obed Simon Johnson]] (1881-1970)
*[[Herbert Silberer]] (1882–1923)
*[[Manly P. Hall]] (1901–1990)
*[[Titus Burckhardt]] (1908–1984)
*[[Marie-Louise von Franz]] (1915–1998)
*[[Serge Hutin]] (1927–1997)
*[[Antoine Faivre]] (1934-2021)
*[[Joost Ritman]] (born 1941)
*[[Adam McLean]] (born 1948)
*[[Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke]] (1953–2012)
*[[William R. Newman]] (born 1955)
*[[ Fabrizio Pregadio]] (born 1957)
*[[Lawrence M. Principe]]
*[[Wouter Hanegraaff]] (born 1961)
}}

==Indirectly involved with alchemy==
*[[Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor]] (1552–1612)
*[[Qin Shi Huang]] (259–210 BC)
*[[Yongzheng Emperor]] (1678–1735)

==In fiction==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
{{further|Alchemy in art and entertainment
}}
*[[Diablo (Marvel Comics)|Diablo]], an enemy of the [[Fantastic Four]]
*[[Diablo (Marvel Comics)|Diablo]], an enemy of the [[Fantastic Four]]
*Characters from [[Fullmetal Alchemist]]
*[[Edward Elric]], a fictional character in the ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' series
*[[Roy Mustang]], a fictional character in the ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' series
*Riccardo and Aureolus Lorenzo Belli, [[Haunting Ground]]
*[[Ivy Valentine]], [[Soul Calibur]]
*Rorolina Frixell, Totooria Helmold, and Merurulince Rede Arls, [[Arland]] Series
*Magnus, [[The Vampire Chronicles]]
*[[List_of_characters_from_The_Venture_Bros.#The_Order_of_the_Triad|The Alchemist]], [[The Venture Bros.]]
*[[Lyman Banner|Daitokuji]], [[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]
*[[Albus Dumbledore]], [[Harry Potter]]
*Sydney Sage, [[Vampire Academy]]
*Myrnin, [[Morganville Vampires]]
*Mrs. Muvias, [[The Secret Series]]
*Epiphany Greaves-Constantine, [[Hellblazer]]
*[[Claude Frollo]], [[The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]
*Count Manzeppi, [[The Wild Wild West]]
}}
}}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of alchemical substances]]
*[[List of astrologers]]
*[[List of astrologers]]
*[[List of occultists]]
*[[List of occultists]]
*[[Adam McLean]]
*[[List of occult symbols]]
*[[Arthur Edward Waite]]
*[[Carl Jung]]
*[[Herbert Silberer]]
*[[Rudolf Steiner]]
*[[Titus Burckhardt]]

{{Alchemy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alchemists, List of}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alchemists, List of}}
[[Category:Alchemists|*]]
[[Category:Alchemists|*]]
[[Category:Lists of people by activity]]

Latest revision as of 11:58, 6 October 2024

Depiction of Mary the Jewess, considered the first non-fictitious Western alchemist. From Michael Maier's Symbola Aurea MensaeDuodecim Nationum (1617)

An alchemist is a person versed in the art of alchemy. Western alchemy flourished in Greco-Roman Egypt, the Islamic world during the Middle Ages, and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Indian alchemists and Chinese alchemists made contributions to Eastern varieties of the art. Alchemy is still practiced today by a few, and alchemist characters still appear in recent fictional works and video games.

Many alchemists are known from the thousands of surviving alchemical manuscripts and books. Some of their names are listed below. Due to the tradition of pseudepigraphy, the true author of some alchemical writings may differ from the name most often associated with that work. Some well-known historical figures such as Albertus Magnus and Aristotle are often incorrectly named amongst the alchemists as a result.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Legendary

[edit]

Greco-Roman Egypt

[edit]

India

[edit]

China

[edit]

Arabic-Islamic world

[edit]
Further information: Alchemy and chemistry in medieval Islam

Europe

[edit]

Revival and modern

[edit]

Scholars of alchemy

[edit]

Indirectly involved with alchemy

[edit]

In fiction

[edit]
Further information: Alchemy in art and entertainment

See also

[edit]
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