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Becoming Gold: Zosimos of Panopolis and the Alchemical Arts in Roman Egypt Hardcover – Illustrated, 22 Dec. 2018

English edition by Shannon Grimes (Autor)
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FOREMOST among the alchemists of the Hellenized world, the "divine" Zosimos practiced a sacred art in which metaphysical and metallurgical realities were fundamentally intertwined. Rather than being an exclusive product of Alexandrian syncretism, however, the dual spiritual and material emphasis of this alchemy reveals much deeper roots than expected: roots which extend deep into the religious cultures of the Ancient Near East. Through the methods of "cultural biography" and "thick description", Becoming Gold guides the reader deep into the temple culture of Roman Egypt, where the role of scribal priest intersects explicitly with the metallurgical craft traditions.

Going beyond generalizations, Grimes explores the metal-coloring techniques developed in Egyptian polychromic statuary, as well as the rituals of statue animation performed by the priests of the House of Life. In this light, Zosimos is increasingly revealed as a scribal priest responsible for preserving and translating ancient Egyptian metallurgical recipes; a high-ranking goldsmith who oversaw temple statue makers.


Against the wider backdrop of late antique religion and philosophy, Grimes also details the fascinating connections between alchemy, theurgy, and gnosticism. Here, Zosimos's spiritual attitudes are explored through the daimonic versus astrological influences upon alchemical operations; meditative practices using mirrors of electrum to attain divine gnosis; and the overarching imperative to transform the bonds of embodiment into vehicles for divinity. Zosimos reveals an alchemy in which spiritual and material realities are ultimately nondual; in which metals becomes living bodies for divine spirits; and in which the immortal soul--luminous and golden--radiates through its
material forms.

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The first volume of the Panopolis Project began as a doctoral dissertation on Zosimos (Syracuse University, 2006). While some of the core material remains intact, much has been changed and expanded as Grimes's research has taken new directions over the intervening years. This current work, Becoming Gold, has benefitted from a wave of scholarship on Græco-Egyptian alchemy in the past decade, as well as an influx of studies on Roman Egypt from many different disciplines, including socio-economics, politics, religion, art history, and archæology. Exploring the Egyptian roots of Zosimos's life and work, Grimes concludes that ancient temple traditions of statue-making are absolutely critical for understanding Zosimos and the origins of alchemy.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rubedo Press; Illustrated edition (22 Dec. 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 290 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0473407760
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0473407766
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.39 x 22.86 cm

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  • S. Beeson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A review from the perspective of a working Hermeticist.
    Reviewed in the United States on 14 January 2020
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    Dr. Grimes defines her work as a cultural biography of Zosimos of Panopolis. This work’s chief purpose is to provide layers of context to understand the world in which Zosimos was writing and the transitions that were occurring in Egypt; the rise of the trade guilds and dissemination of previously guarded secrets among a new class of artisans. She first argues Egyptian alchemy predates the incorporation of Greek ideas into Egyptian religious practice by examining the role of metallurgy in the temple culture among the priest-class. Once the roles are established as a foundation, the rising trade guilds and their relationship with the Temple discussed, by an exploration of the interactions between Zosimos and his Jewish or Christian student Theosebia. Relationships established, Zosimos a brief survey of Zosimos’s Religious beliefs and practices are explored through Zosimos’s allegory On Excellence, here Grimes frequently pulls from known Egyptian beliefs using contemporary scholarship to further illuminate the subject and examine the underlying beliefs. This allows us to understand Zosimos’s contextualization and harmonization of these beliefs using the language of Jewish, Christian-Gnostic, and Greek thought. The role of alchemy and underpinning philosophy explored Dr. Grimes goes a bit deeper comparing the works of Zosimos and Iamblichus, arguing they were approaching the world with a similar philosophy and that their methods are both reflections of that worldview.

    This is an excellent companion to the primary text of Zosimos for any who want to pursue a path close to the temple-alchemist of Roman Egypt, as it puts the practices into the context. The study of how Zosimos frames Hermetic truths in terms that can be appreciated by Jewish and Egyptian audiences is helpful as it allows us to trace a thread of thought and see the seed planted that would grow into the philosophies of the medieval alchemists.
    The discussions surrounding natural and unnatural alchemy granted me a bit more insight into the role of astrological timing and the place of Angels and daimon. Zosimos argues that they should largely be banished as they lack awareness of anything beyond their domain and so the alchemist risks loosing sight of the larger context, the domain of the One, if they work too closely with them. He also explains the differences in hierarchies and correspondences as the working of spirits eager to be fed and uses these as further arguments against depending upon them.
    Another place this book shines is in the explanations of how metallurgical processes became spiritual allegories. In this way it could help provide further context to lab alchemist as to how to improve their meditations on the spiritual side. It’s not particularly new information, but it’s a good example none the less.

    TLDR: This book is best for those who want to study Zosimos and practice his work. It also serves as good context for those who want to understand how Alchemy developed and learn where some of the assumptions and practices come from. It presents strong arguments for consideration to the Ceremonial Magicians and an example of learning spiritual truths from physical practices for the practicing laboratory alchemist.
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  • ALEJANDRO FLORES J
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gran libro.
    Reviewed in Mexico on 21 March 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Pues qué les digo, Rubedo Press es garantía de libros profesionales sobre temas de Alquimia y ocultismo.
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  • vasco maroni Filho
    4.0 out of 5 stars Cultura mediterrânea
    Reviewed in Brazil on 24 October 2024
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    Livro em inglês de historiadora especialista em cultura pagã mediterrâneo ( greco-romana egípcia) com pesquisa bem fundamentada.
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  • Lucia Urania Nájera Mora
    5.0 out of 5 stars amazing book
    Reviewed in the United States on 24 October 2019
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    it is an amazing book! 100% recommended
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