Philosopher's stone 152176 225511437 2008-07-14T02:04:44Z Khunglongcon 6358314 {{otheruses}} The '''philosopher's stone''' ([[Latin language|Latin]]: ''lapis philosophorum''; [[Greek language|Greek]]: ''[[chrysopoeia]]'') is a [[legend]]ary substance, supposedly capable of turning inexpensive [[metal]]s into [[gold]]; it was also sometimes believed to be an [[elixir of life]], useful for [[Rejuvenation (aging)|rejuvenation]] and possibly for achieving [[immortality]]. For a long time it was the most sought after goal in [[Western culture|Western]] [[alchemy]]. In the view of spiritual alchemy, making the philosopher's stone would bring enlightenment upon the maker and conclude the [[magnum opus|Great Work]].<ref>[[Max Heindel|Heindel, Max]], ''[http://www.rosicrucian.com/frc/frceng01.htm Freemasonry and Catholicism]'', ISBN 0-911274-04-9</ref> ==In alchemy== Alchemists once thought a key component in creation of the stone was a mythical [[chemical element|element]] named carmot.<ref>Burt, A.L. 1885. ''The National Standard Encyclopedia: A Dictionary of Literature, the Sciences and the Arts, for Popular Use'' p. 150. [http://books.google.com/books?id=J6QRAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA2-PA151&dq=carmot+philosopher+stone#PRA2-PA150,M1 Available online.]</ref><ref>Sebastian, Anton. 1999. ''A Dictionary of the History of Medicine.'' p. 179. ISBN 1-85070-021-4. [http://books.google.com/books?id=f70MZLHwvp0C&pg=PA179&ots=xpeW_Nzh8O&dq=carmot+philosopher+stone&sig=gwK3sgPsODT75fU27NLdCxsIVUk Available online.]</ref> [[Alchemy]] itself is mostly an original concept and science practiced in the [[ancient Near East]], [[ancient Egypt|Egypt]], [[ancient Greece|Greece]], and [[History of metallurgy in the Indian subcontinent|India]]. However, the concept of ensuring youthful health originated in [[China]]. The 8th century [[Alchemy and chemistry in Islam|Arab alchemist]], [[Geber|Jabir ibn Hayyan]] ([[Latin]]ized as 'Geber'), analysed each [[classical element]] in terms of the four basic qualities of ''hotness'', ''coldness'', ''dryness'', and ''moistness''. Fire was both hot and dry, earth cold and dry, water cold and moist, and air hot and moist. He further theorized that every metal was a combination of these four principles, two of them interior and two exterior. From this premise, it was reasoned that the transmutation of one metal into another could be effected by the rearrangement of its basic qualities. This change would presumably be mediated by a substance, which came to be called ''al-iksir'' in [[Arabic language|Arabic]] (from which the Western term "elixir" is derived). It is often considered to exist as a dry red powder (also known as al-Kibrit al-Ahmar الكبريت الأحمر -- red sulphur) made from a legendary stone — the "philosopher's stone".<ref>{{citation|title=The Philosopher's Stone: Alchemy and Chemistry|first=Jehane|last=Ragai|journal=Journal of Comparative Poetics|volume=12|issue=Metaphor and Allegory in the Middle Ages|year=1992|pages=58-77}}</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Maslama al-Majriti and the Rutbatu'l-Hakim|first=E. J.|last=Holmyard|journal=[[Isis (journal)|Isis]]|volume=6|issue=3|year=1924|pages=293-305}}</ref> In the 11th century there was a debate among [[Alchemy and chemistry in Islam|Muslim chemists]] on whether the transmutation of substances was possible. A leading opponent was [[Avicenna]], who discredited the theory of transmutation of substances: {{quote|"Those of the chemical craft know well that no change can be effected in the different species of substances, though they can produce the appearance of such change."<ref>[[Robert Briffault]] (1938). ''The Making of Humanity'', p. 196-197.</ref>}} According to legend, the 13th-century scientist and philosopher [[Albertus Magnus]] is said to have discovered the philosopher's stone and passed it to his pupil [[Thomas Aquinas]], shortly before his death ''circa'' 1280. Magnus does not confirm he discovered the stone in his writings, but he did record that he witnessed the creation of gold by "transmutation."<ref>Julian Franklyn ans Frederick E. Budd. ''A Survey of the Occult.'' Electric Book Company. 2001. p. 28-30. ISBN 1843270870.</ref> The 16th-century Swiss alchemist [[Philippus Paracelsus]] believed in the existence of [[alkahest]] which he thought to be an undiscovered element from which all other elements (earth, fire, water, air) were simply derivative forms. Paracelsus believed that this element was, in fact, the philosopher's stone. Jabir's theory was based on the concept that metals like gold and silver could be hidden in [[alloy]]s and [[ore]]s, from which they could be recovered by the appropriate chemical treatment. Jabir himself is believed to be the inventor of [[aqua regia]], a mixture of [[hydrochloric acid|muriatic]] (hydrochloric) and [[nitric acid|nitric]] acids, one of the few substances that can dissolve [[gold]] (and which is still often used for gold recovery and purification). Gold was particularly valued as a metal that would not rust, tarnish, corrode or otherwise grow corrupt. Since the philosopher's stone would turn a corruptible base metal to incorruptible gold, naturally it would similarly transform human beings from mortal (corruptible) to immortal (incorruptible). One of many theories was that gold was a superior form of metal, and that the philosopher's stone was even purer and superior to gold, and if combined with lesser metals would turn them into superior gold as well. {{Fact|date=December 2007}} A mystical text published in the 17th century called the [[Mutus Liber]] appears to be a symbolic instruction manual for concocting a philosopher's stone. Called the "wordless book", it was a collection of 15 illustrations. ==Contemporary interpretations== The Latin American spiritual teacher [[Samael Aun Weor]] stated that the philosopher's stone is synonymous with the symbol of the stone found in many other spiritual and religious traditions, such as the stone [[Jacob's Ladder (Bible)|Jacob]] rests his head upon, the cubic stone of [[Freemasonry]], and the rock upon which [[Christ]] lays the foundation of the temple.<ref>{{cite web|last=Samael Aun Weor|authorlink=Samael Aun Weor|title=Arcanum 2: The Priestess |url=http://www.gnosticteachings.org/content/view/322/10122/|accessdate=2007-04-09}}</ref> {{cquote | For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone," and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. - [[First Epistle of Peter|1 Peter]] 2: 6-8}} He states that this "stone of stumbling" and "rock of offence" is the creative-sexual energy, which in [[Kabbalah]] is [[Yesod]] ("foundation") that must be [[sexual sublimation|transmuted]] through [[sexual alchemy]]. It is said to be rejected by the "builders," meaning those who seek spiritual edification, because they reject the transmutation of sexual energy, and instead use it to achieve sensual pleasure.<ref>{{cite web|last=Samael Aun Weor|authorlink=Samael Aun Weor|title=Final Catastrophe |url=http://www.gnosticteachings.org/content/view/60/64/|accessdate=2007-04-09}}</ref> ==In art and entertainment== The philosopher's stone has been subject, inspiration, or plot feature of innumerable artistic works: [[novel]]s, [[comics]] stories, [[Film|movie]]s, [[animation]]s, and even [[music]]al compositions. It is also a popular item in many [[video game]]s. The following is a very incomplete list. ===Literature=== *''[[Natural Magic]]'' (1558), by [[Giambattista della Porta]] *''[[The Philosopher's Stone (fairy tale)|The Philosopher's Stone]]'' (1789), by [[Christoph Martin Wieland]].<ref name="Zipes">Zipes, Jack. ''Spells of Enchantment.'' New York: Viking, 1991.</ref> [[Germany|German]] fairy tale. *''[[Hinzelmeier]]'' (1857), by [[Theodor Storm]].<ref name="Zipes" /> [[Romanticism|Romantic]] style German fairy tale. *''[[Philosopher's Stone (book)|Philosopher's Stone]]'' (1859), by [[Hans Christian Andersen]]. *''[[The Trumpeter of Krakow]]'' (1928), by [[Eric P. Kelly]]. *''[[The Red Lion]]'' 1946, by [[Maria Szepes]] Hungary. Story of a man's journey through four centuries of life after acquiring the Philosopher's stone. *''[[One Hundred Years of Solitude]]'' (1967), by [[Gabriel García Márquez]]. *''[[The Philosopher's Stone (Colin Wilson book)]]'' (1971), by [[Colin Henry Wilson|C. H. Wilson]]. *''[[The Ogre Downstairs]]'' (1974), by [[Diana Wynne Jones]]. *''[[The Alchemist (novel)|The Alchemist]]'' (1988), by [[Paulo Coelho]]. *''[[Foucault's Pendulum]]'' (1988), by [[Umberto Eco]], where a character claims that the Stone is actually the [[Holy Grail]]. *''[[Indiana Jones and the Iron Phoenix]]'' (1994 graphic novel), by [[Lee Marrs]]. *''[[Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' (1995), by [[Max McCoy]]. *''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' (1997), by [[J. K. Rowling]] (renamed ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' in the US; note also that when the stone is referred to in Latin in a Potter context, it is called ''philosophi lapis'' rather than ''philosophorum'', i.e. "of the philosopher" instead of the original "of philosophers"). *''[[The Philosopher's Stone: A Quest for the Secrets of Alchemy]]'' (2001), by [[Peter Marshall (author)|Peter Marshall]] *The ''[[The Baroque Cycle (novel)|Baroque Cycle]]'' trilogy (2003&ndash;2004), by [[Neal Stephenson]], where it is used to explain an unusually heavy gold sample. * ''[[The Queen's Fool]]'' (novel, 2004), by [[Philippa Gregory]]. * ''[[The Alchemyst:the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel]]'' (novel, 2007), by Michael Scott. * ''[[The Six Sacred Stones]]'' (novel, 2007 AUS or 2008 US and UK), By Matthew Reily. ===Comics, movies, TV, and animations=== [[Image:Phil Stone.jpg|thumb|Philosopher's stone as depicted in the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|first Harry Potter film]].]] *''[[The Fabulous Philosopher's Stone (Disney comics)|The Fabulous Philosopher's Stone]]'' (1955), a [[Donald Duck]] story by [[Carl Barks]]. *''[[The Flash]]'' rogue known as [[Doctor Alchemy]] used a philosopher's stone as his main weapon in crime (1958) *''[[Parash Pathar|The Philosopher's Stone]]'' (1958) by [[Satyajit Ray]]. *''The Night of the Feathered Fury", a [[Wild Wild West]] episode. Count Manzeppi (guest star Victor Buono) attempts to acquire a wind-up bird that contains a magical secret: the Philosopher’s Stone (1967). *''Legend of the Holy Rose'', a two-part [[MacGyver]] episode centered on finding the philosopher's stone (1989) *''[[The Slayers]] (1995), the version of the stone that was depicted in this series varied quite substantially from traditional depictions of it, the stone being of a dark color, and appeared to have a metamorphic-rock-like consistency, it was said to be part of the "Staff of the Gods" that supported the Slayers world, and increased a magic-user's powers exponentially, to the point of being almost god-like. *''[[The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest]]'' (1996), episode where a modern alchemist forces the Quest family to join in his experimentation with the Philosopher's stone. *''Rock of Ages'', a 5-part story-arc in [[DC Comics]]' [[JLA]] comic series. (1997-98) *''[[Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (movie)|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone]]'' (2001); retitled ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'' in the [[United States|US]]. *''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]] (2001) A legendary stone said to allow the holder to completely bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange. As with all things, however, to create a Philosopher's Stone requires the expenditure of raw materials: including human lives on a massive scale. *''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]] (2002) Jason Blood and his alter-ego Etrigan the Demon, seek the assistance of the Justice League in preventing the Philosopher's stone from falling into the hands of his ancient enemy, the sorceress Morgaine Le Fey. <!-- PLEASE DO NOT ADD ANY ENTRIES WITHOUT DATES. IF THERE IS NO WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE FOR THE ITEM, EITHER WRITE ONE, OR PROVIDE THE ESSENTIAL DETAILS (AUTHOR, FULL TITLE, KIND OF WORK, ETC.) HERE. THANKS... --> ===Music=== * The American [[progressive metal]] band [[Tool]] refer to the Philosopher's Stone on their 2001 album "[[Lateralus]]" on the opening track "The Grudge". * The concept-album ''[[Grand Materia]]'' (2005) by the [[Sweden|Swedish]] metal-band [[Morgana Lefay]] is about [[Nicolas Flamel]] and his life and how he made the Philosopher's Stone. * Van Morrison recorded a song called "Philosophers Stone" for his 1999 album "Back on Top" which was heard in the 2000 film "Wonder Boys" and on its subsequent soundtrack. He also released an album entitled "The Philosophers Stone" on June 16th, 1998. This double CD is actually a collection of 30 previously unreleased recordings created between 1971-1988. ===Video Games=== *[[Zork Nemesis]] (1996); Charged with the task of unravelling the mystery of "The Nemesis" the player must explore an area known as the "The Forbidden Lands", set within the fictional world of [[Zork]]. The story of the game focuses heavily on [[alchemy]], the discovery of the [[Quintessence]], and the Philosopher's Stone. ==See also== {{multicol}} *[[Azoth]] *[[Edward Kelley]] *[[Etheric body#Vital body in the Western Wisdom Teachings|Golden Wedding Garment]] *[[Filius philosophorum]] {{multicol-break}} *[[Midas]] *[[Panacea (medicine)]] *[[The Net (substance)]] *[[Vitriol]] {{multicol-end}} ==References== <references/> ==External Links== *[http://www.spiritualislibrae.com/the-stone-of-the-philosophers-by-edward-kelly/ The Philosopher's Stone by Edward Kelly] [[Category:Alchemical substances]] [[Category:Alchemy]] [[Category:Gold]] [[Category:Mythological substances]] [[bg:Философски камък]] [[ca:Pedra filosofal]] [[de:Stein der Weisen]] [[es:Piedra filosofal]] [[eo:Ŝtono de la saĝuloj]] [[fr:Pierre philosophale]] [[ko:현자의 돌]] [[id:Batu filsuf]] [[it:Pietra filosofale]] [[he:אבן החכמים]] [[la:Lapis philosophorum]] [[lt:Filosofinis akmuo]] [[hu:Bölcsek köve]] [[mk:Философски камен]] [[nl:Steen der wijzen]] [[ja:賢者の石]] [[no:De vises stein]] [[nn:Dei vises stein]] [[pl:Kamień filozoficzny]] [[pt:Pedra filosofal]] [[ro:Piatra filozofală]] [[ru:Философский камень]] [[sk:Kameň mudrcov]] [[sl:Kamen modrosti]] [[fi:Viisasten kivi]] [[sv:De vises sten]] [[tl:Bato ng pilosopo]] [[vi:Hòn đá triết lí]] [[zh:賢者之石]]