Alchemy symbols sometimes contain hints of the qualities the element was thought to have, as well as the history of the element. Since the beginning of alchemy, alchemists have used symbols to represent different elements. Improved scientific knowledge, particularly in chemistry, also lead to alchemy’s decline in the 18th and 19th centuries as scientists learned many of the goals of alchemy weren’t possible. Transmute metals (specifically into gold)Īchieving any one of these goals would cause the alchemist to become incredibly rich and famous and, as a result, many would-be alchemists used trickery or outright lied about their findings, eventually tarnishing the concept of alchemy and linking it to the idea of fraud. Alchemy originated in the early centuries AD, primarily in Egypt, Greece, and Rome, but eventually spread as far as India, China, and England by the 12th century.Ĭreate the Philosopher’s Stone (a legendary substance said to be capable of transforming lead into gold and giving the user eternal life)Ĭreate an elixir of eternal youth and health Have you seen images of alchemy symbols and want to know more about what they mean? Alchemy element symbols have been around for centuries, and people are often interested in them because they contain some of the mystique the field of alchemy does.īut what do those symbols mean? And how were the elements they represent used by alchemists? In this guide we’ll give a background on alchemy and alchemy symbols, then we’ll cover every major alchemy symbol, including what it stood for, the properties it was associated with, and any interesting facts that go along with the alchemy symbols and meanings.Īlchemy is an area of study, sometimes described as a science, sometimes described as a branch of philosophy, that was practiced in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

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