Alchemy

Alchemy is an early protoscientific practice combining elements of chemistry, physics, astrology, art, semiotics, metallurgy, medicine, and mysticism. These practices were usually used outside of what is now known as the scientific method, however, alchemy can be regarded as the precursor of the modern science of chemistry prior to the formulation of the scientific method.

Etymology

The word alchemy comes from the Arabic al-k?miyaˀ or al-kh?miyaˀ (???????? or ????????), which is probably formed from the article al- and the Greek word chumeia (??????) meaning "cast together", "pour together", "weld", "alloy", etc. (from khumatos, "that which is poured out, an ingot").

Related Topics:
Arabic - Greek

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Some believe that the Arabic word al-k?miyaˀ means "the Egyptian ", borrowing the Coptic word k?me (or from the mediaeval Bohairic dialect of Coptic, which wrote the word kh?me), meaning "Egypt". The Coptic word derives from Demotic km?, itself from ancient Egyptian kmt. The ancient Egyptian word referred to both the country and the colour "black" (Egypt was the "Black land", by contrast with the "Red land", the surrounding desert), so it is thought that such a borrowing in Arabic was appropriate for "Egyptian black arts". However, a decree of Diocletian, written about 300 CE in Greek, speaks against "the ancient writings of the Egyptians, which treat of the kh?mia of gold and silver". The Arabic therefore could derive from a purely Greek word, not Coptic, and have been later connected with ancient Egypt through what linguists term a "folk etymology."

Related Topics:
Coptic - Demotic - Egyptian - Diocletian - 300 - Folk etymology

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