19-20 October 2024, 11.00-15.00
Paul and Alexander Canellopoulos Museum
Senior Researcher, Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens (IHR, NHRF)
Invited researcher:
Goldsmith – researcher of ancient metalworking techniques, Artist Fellow 2021, Center for Greek Studies, Harvard
Τhe Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece, the Institute of Historical Research of the National Hellenic Research Foundation, and the Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum organize the workshop “Alchemy in Byzantium: Exploring a Fascinating ‘Art’”. CHS Greece, through its annual Workshop Series, aims to support Hellenic Studies and the broader field of Humanities, and to offer intergenerational, interdisciplinary, lifelong learning opportunities to the public.
In this workshop, we will delve into the intriguing realm of Byzantine alchemy, a field that until recently remained largely unexplored but has now begun to attract research interest. Despite this growing attention, alchemy in Byzantium remains largely unknown to the general public.
In fact, Byzantine alchemy builds upon the Graeco-Egyptian chemical tradition which it systematizes and significantly expands. Over time, it also interacts with Islamic and medieval Latin alchemy. Notably, significant aspects of this Art – such as its conceptualization as a “gift of God” and the application of mathematical principles to alchemical processes – initially emerged in the Byzantine context before appearing in other traditions.
Thematic areas – Workshop structure
The approach to the topic will be organized around the following thematic axes – key aspects of Byzantine alchemy:
- Origins and Initial Phase – Graeco-Roman and Byzantine Egypt
- Christianization, Systematization, and Mathematization
- Maturity and Contact with Other Alchemical Traditions
- Affinity with Artisanal Fields – Alchemical Collections of Technical Recipes
The coordinator will introduce the above topics, focusing on prominent alchemical authors, their works, and ideas. Participants will actively engage in discussions and explore the development of Byzantine alchemy. The presentation will be based on primary sources, mainly Byzantine alchemical codices, as well as relevant secondary literature.
At the end of the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to engage in two activities. First, they will observe the coordinator replicate a Graeco-Egyptian recipe capable of changing the color of a silver object to simulate gold. This hands-on demonstration aims to highlight the pragmatic side of alchemy and spark a discussion about its purposes (“aurifaction” vs. “aurifiction”). The process is completely safe and will take place in an outdoor – well-ventilated – space.
Following this, and after having learned about the relationship between alchemy and metalworking / goldsmithing, participants will explore the limits of alchemical deception with the assistance of goldsmith-researcher Mr. Akis Goumas. Through a presentation on aspects of goldsmithing with examples of Byzantine jewelry from the Canellopoulos Museum collection, they will discover whether an experienced artisan could indeed have been deceived, but at the same time, whether materials created with alchemical techniques could have been used in a goldsmith’s workshop.
Ten days before the workshop, participants will receive relevant reading material that they may optionally study in advance.
Learn more about the workshop’s objectives and participation process (in Greek).
