In China, a parallel alchemy grew with a similar interest in both matter theory and the practical application of alchemy. Around 200BCE, the Greeks found that urine could be collected and used as a mordant to prepare clothe for later dying. Greeks were interested in dyes for clothe produced from plants, animals (beautiful purples can be made from crushing the shells of cochineal insects), and minerals (arsenic can produce a wide variety of oranges, yellows, and reds). Jewelers were interested in producing both genuine gold pieces and in gold-plating baser metals, just as modern jewelers do. Greeks were smelting copper as early as 2200BCE. In addition to this Greek interest in matter theory, the Greeks were also interested in the more practical arts.
If metals naturally grew more pure over time, alchemists simply had to find ways to speed up nature. This theory had immense importance for alchemy. In Meteorologica, Aristotle argued that if left in its natural state for long enough, lead would mature through various phases eventually becoming silver and ultimately gold. Aristotle’s philosophical system became a foundational principle for much of European and Arabic thought for the next two millennia, and his concept of four transmutable elements can be found throughout the writings of subsequent philosophers.Īnother part of Aristotle’s matter theory that proved interesting for philosophers was the idea that metals and minerals ‘grow’ over time in a slow progression towards their highest state. These terrestrial elements were corruptible and impure, but quintessence, the fifth, celestial element was incorruptible and perfect and it was the substance that all of the heavens were made from. Thus the hot, wet air could be converted into fire if it was dried out. Earth, water, fire, and air each have two properties and through those properties, they are transmutable. Aristotle proposed that the four terrestrial elements were coequally basic. Heraclitus thought that fire was the prime matter and Anaximenes thought it was air. The idea that all you needed to grow a tree was a seed and water persisted into the 17th century and the experiments of Jan Baptist van Helmont. The flow of water and its central role in the growth of plants and animals, convinced Thales that all matter was originally composed of water. Thales of Miletus believed that water was the prime matter.
Many of the well known Greek philosophers were interested in matter theory.
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