Description

Michael Maier's work Atalanta fugiens (fleeing Atalante) can be considered one of the first truly multimedia texts. Printed in 1617, the book combines 50 pictorial plates (emblems) with accompanying German and Latin text, notes for a musical accompaniment, vocal text for three voices and a natural philosophical interpretation.The 50 emblems depict alchemical allegories and can be quite difficult to interpret. The emblem depicted above shows the philosopher's stone in action and is titled: "The Stone, that is, Mercury, is cast upon the earth, and exalted on mountains, and resides in the air, and is nourished in water. "

The accompanying poem reads:

"The Stone, as refuse, is by some supposed/

Thrown upon the earth, to rich and poor disclosed:/

Some say it is on the highest mountains placed/

Some say in the air, in water some at last;/

What they all say is true, but I'd have you/

That noble prize in mountains to pursue."

While this is NOT an account of a sighting, I haven't seen it mentioned in this sub and thought some of you might find it interesting. A great translated edition of Atalanta fugiens can be found here: https://furnaceandfugue.org/atalanta-fugiens/emblem36.html