[split] The Strange Thing on 116v

[bi3mw]

The invention of the alembic has often been attributed to the Baghdad Caliphate alchemist Jabir Hayyam around 900 CE, but presumably because it became widely known in Europe from books attributed to Jabir ("Geber") that were translated to Latin first in Italy in the 1200s.  And also because Jabir used the alembic to make sulfuric, hydrochloric, and nitric acids, and thus aqua regia, which dissolves gold -- which made it look like one could turn other metals into gold by alchemical operations.

But in fact the thing is much older.  From Wikipedia: "Alembic drawings appear in works of You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (3rd century C.E.), You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (c. 300 C.E.), and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (c. 373 – c. 414 C.E.). There were alembics with two (dibikos) and three (tribikos) receivers.You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. According to Zosimos of Panopolis, the alembic was invented by You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view..You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view."

So the thing must have been known at least in the Eastern Roman Empire since the first centuries CE.

All the best, --stolfi

Yes, that's correct, but I think the questioner is referring to medieval Europe in his question. In that case, the mid-13th century is a realistic date for the introduction of the alembic.