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LabyrinthDesigners & the Art of Fire

Alchemy works translations, commentaries, and presentations of hidden evidence in myths, art, nature, science history

  • Classical Alchemy
    • The State of the Art
    • An Intriguing Case
    • Opus Magnum Scheme
    • Turba Philosophorum’s Ambition
    • Areas of Interest
    • Index of the Names
    • Articles
    • Lexicon
  • Anatomy of an Alchemical Machine
  • The Primitive Music
  • Boschius’s Ars Symbolica

Boschius’s Ars Symbolica, Alphabetic Letters

Ornate circular emblem with a central A-shaped triangle on a pedestal inside a doorway, surrounded by decorative ribbons and Latin inscriptions at the top and bottom.

Col mio aiuto s’eresse. Dirigit

It stood up with my help. It arranges/orders/lays out.

“The letter A with a perpendicular, referring to the form Amussis. When it was placed on the other side, on the facade of the guild itself, the same letter was crowned: and with a plumb line. It was erected with my help.” – Jakob Bosch aka Boschius, Symbolographia sive de arte symbolica, 1702, class 4, emblem CLXXXIV 184.

Totum excurret in orbem

It will spread throughout the circle/world.

“Even the compass, with its cross-shaped figure, refers to this.” – Jakob Bosch, Symbolographia, class 2, DXCIII 593

Ornate engraving-style emblem with a parchment bearing the letter B emerging from a desk, framed by vines, banner reading 'Proxima Prime' above and the Roman numeral CLXXXVII below.

Proxima primae

Next to the first.

“Lemma of the letter B. It is appropriate for the prime minister whom the prince’s grace has closely bound to him: the Spaniards call him strong.” – Jakob Bosch, Symbolographia, Class 4, CLXXXVII 187.

Ornate circular badge with a central ring and the Roman numeral I, flanked by banners reading 'EQUA REGENTI' and 'CLXXXVI' below.

Aequa regenti

It stood up with my help. It arranges/orders/lays out.

“The letter A with a perpendicular, referring to the form Amussis. When it was placed on the other side, on the facade of the guild itself, the same letter was crowned: and with a plumb line. It was erected with my help.” – Jakob Bosch aka Boschius, Symbolographia sive de arte symbolica, 1702, class 4, emblem CLXXXVI 186.

Ornate heraldic emblem featuring a circular shield with the letter L, flanked by two figures, a banner above reads 'LOVIS EQUIS' and a Roman numeral inscription 'CLXXXII' below.

Aequis aequus

Equal with equals.

“By letters or notes in French: ciphers. The letter L is actually a right angle: it’s like a ruler. Or L nothing but the same. Or: L proves equality. To Emperor Leopold Augustus, whose name begins with this letter.” – Jakob Bosch, Symbolographia, Class 4, CLXXXII 182.

Ornate heraldic seal featuring a parchment scroll with five circular marks, surrounded by decorative filigree and a bottom roman numeral CXCIII.

Addito minimo maximum

Adding the maximum to the minimum.

“The letter O for a number: or zero, often repeated as: 000000. Nothing is the same in the world.” – Jakob Bosch, Symbolographia, Class 4, CLXXXII 182.

Quod tantum valeamus ab uno est

The fact is that we can only be strong from one source.

“Belgian mathematicians have the letter I with fourteen zeros, or zeros, like this, I OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. That is: every sum refers to one.” – Jakob Bosch, Symbolographia, Class 3, DLXXI 571.


Si caeteris addar…

If you add the rest…

“The letter H, or aspiration. If you add the rest, the academy mentioned below.” – Jakob Bosch, Symbolographia, Class 3, 438.


Si caeteris addar

If you add the rest…

“H is positioned above class 3 with the lemma.” – Jakob Bosch, Symbolographia, Class 4, 189.


L. Minima sed prima

L. The smallest but the first.

“I. Numerical letter indicating a monad. It is mentioned in relation to the humility of the Blessed Virgin by P. Panicer Agostino.” – Jakob Bosch, Symbolographia, Class 4, 189.

  • Classical Alchemy
    • The State of the Art
    • An Intriguing Case
    • Opus Magnum Scheme
    • Turba Philosophorum’s Ambition
    • Areas of Interest
    • Index of the Names
    • Articles
    • Lexicon
  • Anatomy of an Alchemical Machine
  • The Primitive Music
  • Boschius’s Ars Symbolica

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