ANSWERS: 3
  • There is no record of a "first".
  • "Legend has it that the founder of Egyptian alchemy was the god Thoth, called Hermes-Thoth or Thrice-Great Hermes (Hermes Trismegistus) by the Greeks." "The origin of western alchemy may generally be traced to ancient (pharaonic) Egypt. Metallurgy and mysticism were inexorably tied together in the ancient world. It is claimed by Zosimos that alchemy in ancient Egypt was the domain of the priestly class. Egyptian alchemy is known mostly through the writings of ancient (Hellenic) Greek philosophers, which in turn have often survived only in syriac and Arabic translations. Few original Egyptian documents on alchemy have survived. Most notably the Stockholm papyrus and the Leyden X papyrus. Many writings were lost when the emperor Diocletian ordered the burning of alchemical books[2] after suppressing a revolt in Alexandria (292), which had been a center of Egyptian alchemy. Nevertheless archaeological expeditions in recent times have unearthed evidence of chemical analysis during the Naqada periods. For example, a copper tool dating to the Naqada era bears evidence of having been used in such a way (reference: artifact 5437 on display at [1]). Also, the process of tanning animal skins was already known in Predynastic Egypt as early as the 6th millennium BCE. Other evidence indicates early alchemists in ancient Egypt had invented mortar by 4000 BCE and glass by 1500 BCE. The chemical reaction involved in the production of Calcium oxide is one of the oldest known (references: Calcium oxide, limekiln): CaCO3 + heat → CaO + CO2. Ancient Egypt additionally produced cosmetics, cement, faience and also pitch for shipbuilding. Papyrus had also been invented by 3000 BCE. Legend has it that the founder of Egyptian alchemy was the god Thoth, called Hermes-Thoth or Thrice-Great Hermes (Hermes Trismegistus) by the Greeks. According to legend, he wrote what were called the forty-two Books of Knowledge, covering all fields of knowledge—including alchemy. Hermes's symbol was the caduceus or serpent-staff, which became one of many of alchemy's principal symbols. The "Emerald Tablet" or Hermetica of Thrice-Great Hermes, which is known only through Greek and Arabic translations, is generally understood[who?] to form the basis for Western alchemical philosophy and practice, called the hermetic philosophy by its early practitioners. The first point of the "Emerald Tablet" tells the purpose of hermetic science: "in truth certainly and without doubt, whatever is below is like that which is above, and whatever is above is like that which is below, to accomplish the miracles of one thing."(Burckhardt, p. 196-7) This is the macrocosm-microcosm belief central to the hermetic philosophy. In other words, the human body (the microcosm) is affected by the exterior world (the macrocosm), which includes the heavens through astrology, and the earth through the elements. Though when one gains mastery over their inner world, they begin to be able to control the exterior world in unconventional ways.(Burckhardt, p. 34-42)" Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alchemy_in_history
  • The first alchemist of whom we have definite record was Gebir, an Persian identified by the authorities of his own race as Jabir ibn Hayan and died in Kufa. http://www.learn-persian.com/english/Geber_Jaber_ibn_Hayan_chemist.php

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