Editing Azoth

{{Short description|Idealized substance in alchemy}}
{{multiple issues|
{{rewrite|date=March 2017}}{{Citations needed|date=June 2023}}}}[[Image:Fotothek df tg 0008247 Theosophie ^ Alchemie ^ Hermetik.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Fourth woodcut illustration from [[Basil Valentine]]'s ''Azoth'' (1613)]][[File:Fotothek df tg 0008248 Theosophie ^ Alchemie ^ Hermetik.jpg|thumb|Sixth woodcut from the series in [[Basil Valentine]]'s ''Azoth'']]'''Azoth''' is a universal remedy or potent [[solvent]] sought after in the realm of [[alchemy]], akin to [[alkahest]]—a distinct alchemical substance. The quest for Azoth was the crux of numerous alchemical endeavors, symbolized by the [[Caduceus]]. Initially coined to denote an esoteric formula pursued by alchemists, akin to the [[Philosopher's stone|Philosopher's Stone]], the term ''Azoth'' later evolved into a poetic expression for the element [[Mercury (element)|mercury]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} The etymology of 'Azoth' traces to [[Medieval Latin]] as a modification of 'azoc,' ultimately derived from the [[Arabic]] ''al-za'buq'' (الزئبق), meaning 'the mercury.'<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=Definition of Azoth |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/azoth |access-date=22 July 2013 |publisher=Merriam-Webster Dictionary}}</ref>

The scientific community does not recognize the existence of this substance. The myth of Azoth may stem from misinterpreted observations of solvents like mercury, capable of dissolving gold. Additionally, the myth might have been fueled by the occult inclinations nurtured by alchemists, who rooted and steered their chemical explorations in superstitions and dogmas.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

== Description ==
Azoth was believed to be the essential agent of transformation in alchemy. It is the name given by ancient alchemists to mercury, which they believed to be the animating spirit hidden in all matter that makes transmutation possible. The word comes from the Arabic ''al-zā'būq'' which means "mercury". The word occurs in the writings of many early alchemists, such as [[Zosimos of Panopolis|Zosimos]], [[Olympiodorus the Younger|Olympiodorus]], and [[Jābir ibn Hayyān]] (Geber).{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

== Mystical traditions and philosophy ==
Azoth has also been linked to various mystical and spiritual practices beyond alchemy. In the context of [[Renaissance magic]], it was often associated with the idea of spiritual enlightenment and the purification of the soul. Some mystical traditions regarded Azoth as a metaphor for the internal transformation required to achieve a higher state of consciousness. It was thought to embody the process of turning base human traits into divine virtues, akin to the transformation of base metals into gold. This spiritual interpretation of Azoth influenced numerous [[esoteric]] and hermetic schools of thought, contributing to its lasting legacy in Western mystical traditions. Additionally, Azoth's connection to mercury and its fluid, transformative properties also made it a symbol of adaptability and change in broader philosophical contexts.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In the [[Kabbalah]], Azoth is related to the [[Ain Soph|Ein Soph]] or 'the Endless One'.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

==See also==
*[[Anima mundi]]
*[[Panacea (medicine)]]
*[[Prima materia]]
*[[Viriditas]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
* {{cite book
| first = Aleister
| last = Crowley
| author-link = Aleister Crowley
| title = 777 And Other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley
| date = June 1986
| publisher = Samuel Weiser, 1977
| location = York Beach, ME
| isbn = 0-87728-670-1
}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Azoth}}
* [http://www.alchemylab.com/azoth.htm Interpretation of Azoth of the Philosophers] (by Dennis William Hauck)
* [http://www.azothalchemy.org/what_is_azoth.htm What is the Azoth?] and [http://azothalchemy.org/azoth_ritual.htm The Azoth Ritual] at [http://www.azothalchemy.org Azothalchemy.org]

{{Alchemy}}

[[Category:Alchemical substances]]
[[Category:Mythological medicines and drugs]]