Editing Alchemy (section)

==== Technology ====
The dawn of Western alchemy is sometimes associated with that of [[metallurgy]], extending back to 3500&nbsp;BC.<ref>{{Harvnb|Linden|1996|p=12}}</ref> Many writings were lost when the [[Roman emperor]] [[Diocletian]] ordered the burning of alchemical books<ref>{{cite book |last=Partington |first=James Riddick |title=A Short History of Chemistry |url=https://archive.org/details/shorthistoryofch0000part_q6h4|url-access=registration |year=1989 |page=[https://archive.org/details/shorthistoryofch0000part_q6h4/page/20 20] |isbn=978-0-486-65977-0 |publisher=Dover Publications |location=New York}}</ref> after suppressing a revolt in Alexandria (AD&nbsp;292). Few original Egyptian documents on alchemy have survived, most notable among them the [[Stockholm papyrus]] and the [[Leyden papyrus X]]. Dating from AD&nbsp;250 to 300, they contained recipes for dyeing and making artificial gemstones, cleaning and fabricating pearls, and manufacturing of imitation gold and silver.<ref>Caley, E. R. (1927) "The Stockholm Papyrus : An English Translation with brief notes" Journal of Chemical Education IV:8 : 979–1002.</ref> These writings lack the mystical, philosophical elements of alchemy, but do contain the works of [[Bolus of Mendes]] (or [[Pseudo-Democritus]]), which aligned these recipes with theoretical knowledge of astrology and the [[classical elements]].<ref name="Chemistry, Bensaude-Vincent 1996, p13">''A History of Chemistry'', Bensaude-Vincent, Isabelle Stengers, ''Harvard University Press'', 1996, '''p13'''</ref> Between the time of Bolus and Zosimos, the change took place that transformed this metallurgy into a Hermetic art.<ref>{{Harvnb|Linden|1996|p=14}}</ref>