Commentary to Mercher ad Fledium. Liber de lapide qui vocatur Rebis, 15th century
Contents
The text appears to be the beginning of a commentary on the Liber Rebis (also known as Liber Dabessi and Liber Hermetis de alchimia), a dialogue between two characters called Mercher and Fledium attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, legendary man of wisdom and alleged author of the Corpus Hermeticum (the name 'Mercher' could be a corrupition of 'Hermes'). The subject of the book, the Rebis, is the philosopher's stone, the end product of the most important alchemic process. The text breaks off on f. 2 and is joined with another one without breaks (see next item in the list).
It begins on f. 1r with the words Cum omnis philosophia sive scientia inutilis et vacua censetur nisi ab aliquo sciatur proposui deo volente explanare quasdam obscuritates. It is not possible to identify exactly where it ends.
Dates
- Creation: 15th century
Creator
- Hermes, Trismegistus (Attributed name, Person)
Language of Materials
Latin.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to all. The manuscripts can be consulted in the Centre for Research Collections, Edinburgh University Main Library.
Full Extent
2 folios
Bibliography
Thorndike, Lynn, and Pearl Kibre. A catalogue of incipits of Mediaeval scientific writings in Latin. London: William Clowes and Sons, 1963, col. 326.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk