VMs: Cod. Pal. germ. 579...?

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Petr,

At 19:56 24/11/2003 +0100, Petr Kazil wrote:
> What's very interesting is the mention of "the necessity of secrecy" in
> alchemy and yet another old alchemical manuscript in code:
>
> - Von zentraler bedeutung ist die Geheimhaltung in einem der frühesten
> deutschen alchemistischen Texte, nämlich der "Alchemy teuczch" aus den
> zwanziger jahren des 15, Jh.s, die in Cod. Pal. germ. 579 drei verschiedene
> geheimschriftliche Alphabete verwendet. (With a reference to: G. Eis, Achemy
> teuczch, in: Ostbair. Grenzmarken, Passauer Jb. f. Geschichte, Kunst und
> Volkskunde 1 (1957), S. 11 ff.)
>
> Do we know this old German manuschript?

I don't *think* so - presumably it's at Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg? 
Though I couldn't find it on-line, you're welcome to try searching yourself...
http://www.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/helios/fachinfo/www/kunst/digi/handschriften/welcome.html

All the same, I'm fairly sure that Bernhard Bischoff would have made a big 
deal out of it if it was all in cipher?

> Were it not for the VMS I would have never read a book like this. The
> historic research is very interesting to read, but the subject of alchemy is
> the most horrid subject I know. What a load of ... ! How is it possible that
> whole generations and many big minds have wasted their time on this :-)

IMO, alchemy's subjective appeal relies on three deep weaknesses of the 
human mind:-
* suspicion (ie "What if it Really Means Something and We Don't Know?")
* paranoia/conspiracy (ie "What if it was being Covered Up For A Reason?")
* projection (ie, "I know it's a blank canvas, but here is What I Think It 
Means...")

All three are fun individually, but form a dangerous cocktail when mixed. 
Both alchemy researchers and VMs researchers alike have to be careful of 
what they drink! :-o

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling..... 


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