Authors/Raphael Egli

Dedications, Prefaces, Postfaces

• Dedication, 16 July 1608, [Raphael Egli] to Augustus, Prince of Anhalt-Plötzkau; Latin (Source: BP.BasVal.1609-01) (#5843)

from: Basilus Valentinus, De microcosmo, ed. Raphael Egli, Marburg: Wolfgang Ketzel, 1609

Egli reflects on the culmination of many years of laborious study in this field. The medicine discussed claims to purify both the Microcosm (humanity) and the Macrocosm (the universe), linking them to the Moon and the Sun, symbolizing moisture and heat respectively. The text references the Basil Valentine and his work on the Animal Kingdom's Asa and Phalaia. The author has translated these works into Latin, emphasizing their importance in understanding the human condition and the natural world.
Central to the discussion is the concept of the 'Animal Stone', derived from human mummy, believed to contain the essence of the Microcosm. This concept is metaphorically compared to a physician diagnosing from urine, suggesting that the Animal Stone provides a more comprehensive understanding of human nature.
Egli also discusses the significance of gold among minerals and its relationship with wine, highlighting their mutual affinity and beneficial effects on humans. This leads to the concept of three 'stones' - representing the animal, mineral, and vegetable kingdoms - which are said to possess remarkable powers, including rejuvenation and healing.
The text criticizes those who seek universal truths in the wrong places, like air or sea water, arguing instead for a focus on tangible, God-given substances. The author concludes by dedicating his work to the Prince, hoping for his patronage and protection, and expressing a desire for the growth and appreciation of these philosophical ideas under the Prince's guidance. The letter is dated just after the Prince's thirty-fourth birthday in the year 1608.

Poems

• Poem, (1609), [Raphael Egli] to the Reader; Latin (Source: BP.BasVal.1609-01) (#5841)

from: Basilus Valentinus, De microcosmo, ed. Raphael Egli, Marburg: Wolfgang Ketzel, 1609

The poem describes the Quintessence as the living offspring of the Eternal God, not derived from the earth but as the Creator's image, signifying its divine and ethereal nature. It is surrounded by three key alchemical elements: Mercury, Sulfur, and Salt, which are in harmonious union with the human soul. The poem contrasts this divine essence with earthly matter, which lacks life and vigor and is associated with death. The role of the physician or alchemist is emphasized as crucial in extracting and understanding this core essence, which holds the power of both the physical and spiritual worlds. The poem concludes by lauding Basil Valentine for his profound insights into these mysteries.