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Here are the alchemical symbols representing the three primes of Paracelsus. He believed that all beings are made of the three primes with sulphur representing the soul and emotions, mercury representing the spirit, intellect, moral judgment and imagination and salt representing the body and the physical form of everything in the universe. Paracelsus, a renowned Swiss alchemist, physician and philosopher who lived in the 15th and 16th centuries, suggested that all seven metals are made of ‘the three prime elements’, namely, sulphur, mercury and salt. Greek philosophers and alchemists were not the only people with theories on the nature of all beings involving their own set of alchemical elements. Paracelsus Tria Prima, The Three Primes of Paracelsus: Sulphur, Mercury And Salt Air is associated with life-giving forces, like the breaths, and the colors white, grey and blue. It is an upward-looking triangle with a horizontal line crossing through it near the top part.Īristotle classified the air element as hot and wet. The alchemical air symbol is also the exact opposite of the one representing earth. The alchemical opposite of earth in Greek classification of elements of matter is air.

The earth was classified as a cold and dry element by Aristotle. The alchemy symbol for the Greek basic element of earth is a downward triangle with a horizontal line crossing through it near the bottom part. The alchemical earth element is associated with physical movements and the colors brown and green, that is to say, quite literally the colors of the earth. Water Alchemy Symbolīeing the opposite of the alchemical fire element, water is represented with a downward-looking triangle.Ĭlassified as a cold and wet element by Aristotle, water is associated with femininity and befittingly, the color blue. It is a hot and dry element according to Aristotle’s classification of these four basic elements. It is associated with masculinity, fiery emotions like anger and love and naturally, warm colors like orange and red. The alchemical element of fire is represented by an upward triangle in alchemy. Also called, the four classical elements and the four elements of matter, the symbols representing these elements were commonly used in alchemy. The ancient Greeks believed everything in the universe was made of four basic elements fire, water, earth and air. The Four Classical Elements In Alchemy: Fire, Water, Earth And Air

Here is how it looks like:Īccording to their belief, the four corners of the square in the center surrounding the circle represents the four classical elements and the circle represents the fifth element these elements create, that is, the totality, the way to reach beyond the physical world and venture into higher realms.

The philosopher’s stone is represented with the symbol known as ‘the squared circle’, which contains the four classical elements within according to some hermeticists. That is why it is a central element in alchemical symbolism. Alchemists believed that this elixir could be made of the philosopher’s stone.Ĭreating the philosopher’s stone is the magnum opus, the Great Work and the ultimate goal of every alchemist. It was also closely associated by alchemists with the elixir of life, a liquid that was believed to rejuvenate its user, bring them youth and even grant them immortality.