alchemy

Alchemy, an ancient esoteric philosophical system, was expressed through disciplines such as chemistry, physics, astrology, metallurgy, and medicine, leaving traces in the history of art. Often considered a precursor to modern chemistry, the term comes from the Arabic "al-kīmiyya" and may be related to the Greek "khymeia" or the Arabic "al-kemi", perhaps derived from "Kemet", the Egyptian term for "black earth". Alchemists pursued goals such as omniscience, the creation of a panacea, and the transmutation of substances and metals. In addition to involving physical and chemical aspects, alchemy represented a process of spiritual growth, with mystical and philosophical meanings in addition to the material ones.