Welcome to Gaia! ::

(Strange to think that this is my first thread in here. xd )

I'll be straightforward: I'm a freshman in college, and my Art History professor gave us the details for our term paper today (or one of them). We were given a lot of license with what we were allowed to do, and, while I don't even really have to have the idea for my paper until the twenty-first, I decided in class that I wanted to write about the inter-relationship between art and science using the development of alchemy in ancient Egypt, (and maybe India.)

Now, I've been planning on doing research with this sort of thing anyhow, and my professor just gave me an excuse to actually do it. I've been browsing online for almost anything relating, and have checked some books out of my colleges library to peruse.

Why I'm posting: I was wondering if anyone would be willing or able to give me some manner of direction, and/or information with this. I haven't been able to really come up with a thesis question (not statement, question - is there a difference?), and am uncertain about what direction I really want my paper to go in. I just know what I want to to be about.

Any takers?

It was largely developed in Egypt, from what I've read thus far. confused

From Egypt, to Greece, to the European Countries.

It was the beginnings of chemistry. While the ideal was to transmute gold from the baser metals (such as lead, or mercury), it lead to the development or several different compounds - one of which was electrum, which, as I recall, was what the ancient Egyptians coated the pyramids with.

And electrum was developed through alchemy.


I know the basic ideas, I just really need help as far as a specific direction goes. As well as sites and/or books with possible information.

Thank you, WebenBanu. I just wish I'd the money to get those. crying

Anyhow, the due date for the thesis question has come and gone, and it's: "How did Alchemy and Art develop in Ancient Egypt, and how do they relate to each other?"

From what I've gathered, the answer to the latter part is "Religion", but again, any information anyone is willing to part with would be much appreciated.

As would their sources. xp

I think that alchemy in general was concerned with matters of transmutation, physical as well as spiritual. And the quest for immortality has been a spark in mankind's eye for about as long as we've been aware of death... so I wouldn't be surprised to see that issue arising in any alchemical school of thought, no matter its point of origin. Although, I don't know if there was an "Egyptian alchemy" per se- I think that alchemy was a Western/European reaction to a collection of spiritual/metaphysical/scientific lines of reasoning, some of which we are told originated in Egypt. 3nodding

Ishilied, I've another book to add to your wish list, and this one may be more relevant to your subject. The Secret Lore of Egypt: Its Impact on the West by Erik Hornung deals specifically with the impact of Egyptian mysticism- where it correlates with genuine Egyptian traditions and teachings, where it does not, and the development of both lines of thinking into the modern day. Erik Hornung is a very well-studied and well-respected Egyptologist, and I've found most of his books extremely informative and interesting. You can trust any of his books as a source.

What a shame that it's too late for your paper! But this is an interesting subject, definitely worthy of study on its own terms.^_^

You don't necessarily have to buy these books to read them- check with your public library about their Inter-Library Loan system (ILL). Libraries routinely borrow books from other libraries when their patrons wish to read something which they do not have on their own shelves. All you have to do is fill out a request form, and they will find a library who owns a copy of that book and have it mailed in. In my experience, librarians are quite happy to help you with the process- after all, they've devoted their entire livelihood to books. They'd love to see more people reading. wink You should be able to get all the information you need for the form from the Amazon.com links I've been giving.