--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Marco Moretti"
<marcomoretti69@...> wrote:>> As far I know, in Old Egyptian there
is not assem, but s.`m (` being > the `ayin), and the sibilant being
enphatic. The meaning is (as far I > know) "pure gold", and it is
probably the same root s.rp we find in > Semitic languages "to
melt", "to purify metals": Old Egyptian often > shows strange
phonetic correspondences with the other Afro-Asiatic
> languages (/r/ is very instable).
Dear Marco,
If so, the link with soma (R.gveda) becomes interesting.
On assem:
The following are some selections of the Papyrus of Leyden, as found
in the previously mentioned translation of Berthelot:
Manufacture of asem (electrum)
Tin, 12 drachmas; quicksilver, 4 drachmas; earth of Chios, 2
drachmas. To the melted tin add the powdered earth, then add the
mereury, stir with an iron, and put it into use.
[This, then, is a tin amalgam intended to give the appearance of
asem or silver. The earth of Chios as described by Pliny appears to
have been a white clay. Pliny says it was used by women as a
cosmetic.]
The doubling (diplosis) of asem
Take refined copper (chalchos) 40 drachmas, asem 8 drachmas, button
tin 40 drachmas. The copper is first melted and after two heatings
the tin and finally the asem is added. When all is softened, remelt
several times and cool by means of the preceding composition. Clean
with coupholith (tale or selenite according to Berthelot). The
tripling (triplosis) is effected by the same process, the weights
being proportioned in conformity with what has been directed above.
[This recipe would yield a pale yellow bronze containing mercury if,
as seems probable.] [Source:
http://www.levity.com/alchemy/islam03.html ]