Cleopatra, alchemist

Greek and Byzantine alchemical texts refer to the teachings of an alchemist named Cleopatra, whom they possibly identified with the queen of Egypt Cleopatra VII. Although such writings are very probably spurious, they testify to the prestige attached to Cleopatra's name in Greco‐Egyptian and Byzantine alchemy. One of these texts, the Dialogue of Cleopatra and the philosophers , is notable for the metaphor of death and resurrection that it uses to describe the transmutation of metals.

Alchemy · Art · Byzantine architecture · Cleopatra · Literature · Prestige · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classics · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · Philosophy