An alchemist was a person versed in the art of alchemy, an ancient branch of natural philosophy that eventually evolved into chemistry and pharmacology. Alchemy flourished in the Islamic world during the Middle Ages, and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries. For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature, known in Latin as philosophia naturalis, is a term applied to the objective study of nature and the physical universe that was regnant before the development of modern science. ... For other uses, see Chemistry (disambiguation). ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmakon (φάρμακον) meaning drug, and lego (λέγω) to tell (about)) is the study of how drugs interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. ... During the Islamic Golden Age, usually dated from the 8th century to the 13th century,[1] engineers, scholars and traders of the Islamic world contributed enormously to the arts, agriculture, economics, industry, literature, navigation, philosophy, sciences, and technology, both by preserving and building upon earlier traditions and by adding many... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

We know the names and doings of a large number of alchemists, thanks to the numerous alchemical manuscript and books that survived; some of those names are listed below. Possibly there were many more, bent on experimenting than writing, who have left no trace in history.

Legendary alchemists

• Enki, one of the Anunnaki (ca. 3000 BC)
• Hermes Trismegistus
• Jill (Myth Alchemist)
• Mary the Jewess
• Nicolas Flamel
• Justin (Jynx Alchemist)
• Ostanes
• Zozimos
• Christopher Brokenshire esq.
• Prof. Matthew Niccoli

Enki (DEN.KI(G)) was a deity in Sumerian mythology, later known as Ea in Babylonian mythology, originally chief god of the city of Eridu. ... For the fictional Anunnaki from Demon: The Fallen, see Annunaki (White Wolf), the Outlanders series by Mark Ellis, and The Empire Chronicles Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression depicting the Annunaki. ... Hermes Trismegistus (Greek: , thrice-great Hermes; Latin: Mercurius ter Maximus) is the syncretism of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. ... Maria the Jewess or Maria Prophetissa or Mary Prophetissa or Miriam the Prophetess probably lived in the third century A.D. was one of the founders of alchemy. ... This imaginative portrait of Nicolas Flamel dates from the nineteenth century. ... Ostanes was a legendary pre-Islamic sage who, according to some sources, was from Alexandria though he was Persian according to other accounts. ...

Persian Empire alchemists

• Abu Ali al-Husain ibn Abdallah ibn Sina, "Avicenna" (980 - 1037), a critic of alchemy , Father of modern Medicine
• Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi, "Rhazes" (864 - 930)

(Persian: ابن سينا) (c. ... For other uses, see Razi. ...

Egyptian, Greek, and Roman Empire alchemists

• Plato (ca. 360 BC)
• Olympiodorus of Thebes (ca. 400)

For other uses, see Plato (disambiguation). ... Olympiodorus was an historical writer and notable astrologer (5th century AD), born at Thebes in Egypt, who was sent on a mission to the Huns on the Black Sea by emperor Honorius in 412, and later lived at the court of Theodosius. ...

Indian alchemists

• Nagarjuna, the 10th century South Indian king
• Yogi Vemana

For other uses, see Nagarjuna (disambiguation). ...

Chinese alchemists

• Zhang Guo the Elder (ca. 600)

A woodcut of Zhang Guo, carrying a fish-drum. ...

Islamic alchemists

Further information: Alchemy (Islam)

• Khalid ibn Yazid, "Calid" (d. 704)
• Jabir Ibn Hayyan, the "true Geber" (Iraq, c. 721 - 815)
• Al-Farabi, "Alfarabi" (870 -950/951)
• Al-Kindi, "Alkindus" (801 873), a critic of alchemy

Alchemy in Islam differs from the general alchemy in certain ways, one of which is that Muslim alchemists didnt believe in the creation of life in the laboratory. ... Jabir ibn Hayyan and Geber were also pen names of an anonymous 14th century Spanish alchemist: see Pseudo-Geber. ... Al Farabi (870-950) was born of a Turkish family and educated by a Christian physician in Baghdad, and was himself later considered a teacher on par with Aristotle. ... For the Christian theologian, see Abd al-Masih ibn Ishaq al-Kindi. ...

Western alchemists

• Artephius (12th century)
• Alain de Lisle (Born from 1115 to 1128 - died in 1202(1203?))
• Albertus Magnus (1193-1280)
• Roger Bacon (1214-1294)
• Ramon Llull (Raymond Lulli) (1235-1315)
• Pope John XXII (1249-1334)
• Arnold de Villeneuve (1245-?(before 1311))
• Pietro d'Apone (1250-?)
• Jean de Meung (c.1250-c.1305)
• Pseudo-Geber (Spain, 14th century)
• Gilles de Rais (1401-1440)
• Bernard Trevisan (Bernard of Treves) (1406-1490)
• Tomasso Masini da Peretola (15th century)
• Johannes Trithemius (1462-1516)
• Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535)
• Paracelsus (1493-1541)
• Basilius Valentinus (Basil Valentine) (15th century)
• George Ripley (England, 15th century)
• Jacob Boehme (1575-1624)
• Nicolas Flamel (15th century)
• Edward Kelley (1555 - 1597)
• Johann Georg Faust (ca. 1480 - 1540)
• Jan Baptist van Helmont (1577-1644)
• Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)
• François Hotman (1524-1590)
• Michał Sędziwój (1566-1636)
• Arthur Dee (1579-1651)
• Edward Dyer (d. 1607)
• Elias Ashmole (1617-1692)
• George Starkey (alchemist) (1628 - 1665)
• Henning Brand (c.1630-1710)
• Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
• Claude Duval (1643-1670)
• Alessandro Cagliostro (1743-1795)
• Count of St Germain (d. 1784)
• Johann Christoph von Wöllner (1732-1800)
• Ernest Rutherford (1839-1937)
• August Strindberg (1849-1912)
• Fulcanelli (Dates unknown: Late 19th century - early 20th.)

This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Albertus Magnus (b. ... For the Nova Scotia premier see Roger Bacon (politician). ... Ramon Llull. ... Pope John XXII, born Jacques Duèze or dEuse (1249 – December 4, 1334), was the son of a shoemaker in Cahors. ... Jean de Meun or Jean de Meung (c. ... Pseudo-Geber (false Geber) is the name assigned by modern scholars to an anonymous alchemist born in the 14th century, probably in Spain. ... Gilles de Rais Gilles de Rais (also spelled Retz) (September 10, 1404 – October 26, 1440) was a French noble, soldier, and one time brother-in-arms of Joan of Arc. ... Bernard Trevisan (Bernard of Treviso, Bernardus Trevisanus) refers to one or more Italian alchemists. ... Polygraphia (1518) — the first printed book on cryptography. ... Cornelius Agrippa, as portrayed in Libri tres de occulta philosophia. ... Presumed portrait of Paracelsus, attributed to the school of Quentin Matsys. ... 18th century illustration to 3rd key, in Duodecim Claves Basilius Valentinus, also known under his Anglisized name of Basil Valentine was a 15th-century alchemist. ... Sir George Ripley was a famous 15th century English alchemist, second only to Roger Bacon. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Idealized portrait of Böhmes from Theosophia Revelata (1730) Jakob Böhme (1575–1624) was a Christian mystic born in central Germany, near Görlitz. ... This imaginative portrait of Nicolas Flamel dates from the nineteenth century. ... Edward Kelley, nineteenth-century portrait Edward Kelley or Kelly, also known as Edward Talbot (August 1, 1555 - 1597) was a spirit medium who worked with John Dee in his magical investigations. ... 17th century German portrait of Faust. ... PAKIS RULE Jan Baptist van Helmont. ... This article is about the astronomer. ... François Hotman (August 23, 1524 - February 12, 1590), was a French Protestant lawyer and writer, associated with the legal humanists and with the monarchomaques, who struggled against absolute monarchy. ... The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... Arthur Dee (1571-1651) was the eldest son of Dr John Dee. ... Sir Edward Dyer (died May, 1607), was an English courtier and poet. ... Elias Ashmole by an unknown hand (detail), c. ... George Starkey (1628 - 1665) was an alchemist and the first American scientist. ... 1628 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1665 (MDCLXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Alchemist in Search of the Philosophers Stone (1771) by Joseph Wright depicting Henning Brand discovering phosphorus (the glow shown is exaggerated) Henning Brand (c. ... Sir Isaac Newton FRS (4 January 1643 – 31 March 1727) [ OS: 25 December 1642 – 20 March 1727][1] was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, and alchemist. ... Claude Duval (1643 – January 21, 1670) was a French-born gentleman highwayman in post-Restoration Britain. ... Alessandro Cagliostro Count Alessandro di Cagliostro (June 2, 1743 – August 26, 1795) was a traveller, occultist and Freemason. ... Count of St Germain by unknown artist The Count of St. ... Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson OM PC FRS (30 August 1871 – 19 October 1937), widely referred to as Lord Rutherford, was a nuclear physicist who became known as the father of nuclear physics. ...   (January 22, 1849 â€“ May 14, 1912) was a Swedish writer, playwright, and painter. ... Fulcanelli (dates of birth and death unknown) is almost certainly a pseudonym assumed, in the late 19th century, by a French alchemist and esoteric author, whose identity is still debated. ...

Revival and New Age alchemists

• Alexander Shulgin (1925- )
• Terrence McKenna (1946-2000)
• Frater Albertus (Dr. Albert Reidel) (1911-1984)
• Robert Allen Bartlett (1950- )
• Manfred M. Junius (1929-2004)
• G. I. Gurdjieff (1866-1949)
• Diane Di Prima (1932- )
• Marie-Louise von Franz (1915-1998)
• Verônica de Thule (1973- )
• Nicki Scully (1944- )
• Dennis Hauck (19?- )

Alexander and Ann Shulgin, in a photo from their book TiHKAL, c. ... Terence McKenna (November 16, 1946 - April 3, 2000) was a writer and philosopher. ... Frater Albertus Spagyricus - Dr. Richard Albert Riedel 1911 – 1984 Founder of the Paracelsus Research Society in Salt Lake City, which later evolved into the Paracelsus College. ... Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff (Георгий Иванович Гюрджиев, Georgiy Ivanovich Gyurdzhiev (or Gurdjiev); (January 13, 1866? – October 29, 1949), was an Armenian-Greek mystic, a teacher of sacred dances, and a spiritual teacher. ... Image:DianediPrima1954. ... Marie-Louise von Franz (January 4, 1915 - February 17, 1998), the daughter of an Austrian baron and born in Munich, Germany, was a Swiss Jungian Psychologist and scholar. ... Nicki Scully is an author and teacher in the fields of metaphysics, shamanism and healing. ...

Fictional Alchemists

• Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric (1905-?)
• Alphonse Elric (1906-?)
• Flame Alchemist, Roy Mustang
• Strongarm Alchemist, Alex Louis Armstrong
• Tim Marcoh
• Zolf J. Kimblee
• Hohenheim of Light
• Dante
• Atelier Iris, Klein Kliesing, Iris Fortner, Viese and Felt Blanchimont
• Reen, Dragonfable
• Baccano!, Szilard Quates (Immortal)
• Maiza Avaro (Immortal)
• Riccardo Belli

Lezard Valeth Serialized in Monthly Shonen Gangan Original run January 2001 – still running Volumes 17 volumes, with 77 total chapters (as of November 12, 2007) TV anime Director Seiji Mizushima Studio Bones Licensor FUNimation Entertainment MVM Films, then Revelation films Madman Entertainment Network MBS-TBS, Animax Original run October 4, 2003 – October... Edward Elric ) is a fictional character and main protagonist in the anime and manga series Fullmetal Alchemist created by Hiromu Arakawa. ... Alphonse Elric ) is a fictional character in the manga and anime series Fullmetal Alchemist. ... Colonel Roy Mustang is a character from the Fullmetal Alchemist anime and manga series. ... Members of the State Military. ... Members of the State Military. ... Members of the State Military. ... This page lists the main characters from the anime series and manga Fullmetal Alchemist, covering the characters who are widely considered to be primary to the plot of the story; while the Elric Brothers are the heroes of the story, there are also those who are greatly affected by their... DANTE is also a digital audio network. ... Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana is a computer role-playing game developed by Japanese developer Gust for the Playstation 2. ... DragonFable (DF) is a free online browser-based single-player role-playing game or RPG developed by Artix Entertainment. ... Baccano! ) is a light novel series by Ryohgo Narita, with illustrations by Katsumi Enami. ... Riccardo Belli is a fictional character from Capcoms psychotic video game Haunting Ground known as Demento in Japan. ...

See also

• Rudolf Steiner
• Arthur Edward Waite