Original scientific paper
Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451)
Snježana Paušek-Baždar
; Antropološki centar HAZU, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Full text: croatian pdf 1.785 Kb
page 271-282
downloads: 2.552
cite
APA 6th Edition
Paušek-Baždar, S. (2016). Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451). Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine, 42. (2 (84)), 271-282. Retrieved from https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818
MLA 8th Edition
Paušek-Baždar, Snježana. "Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451)." Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine, vol. 42., no. 2 (84), 2016, pp. 271-282. https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.
Chicago 17th Edition
Paušek-Baždar, Snježana. "Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451)." Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine 42., no. 2 (84) (2016): 271-282. https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818
Harvard
Paušek-Baždar, S. (2016). 'Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451)', Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine, 42.(2 (84)), pp. 271-282. Available at: https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818 (Accessed 28 December 2024)
Vancouver
Paušek-Baždar S. Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451). Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2024 December 28];42.(2 (84)):271-282. Available from: https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818
IEEE
S. Paušek-Baždar, "Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451)", Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine, vol.42., no. 2 (84), pp. 271-282, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818. [Accessed: 28 December 2024]
Full text: english pdf 1.785 Kb
page 271-282
downloads: 449
cite
APA 6th Edition
Paušek-Baždar, S. (2016). Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451). Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine, 42. (2 (84)), 271-282. Retrieved from https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818
MLA 8th Edition
Paušek-Baždar, Snježana. "Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451)." Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine, vol. 42., no. 2 (84), 2016, pp. 271-282. https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818. Accessed 28 Dec. 2024.
Chicago 17th Edition
Paušek-Baždar, Snježana. "Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451)." Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine 42., no. 2 (84) (2016): 271-282. https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818
Harvard
Paušek-Baždar, S. (2016). 'Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451)', Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine, 42.(2 (84)), pp. 271-282. Available at: https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818 (Accessed 28 December 2024)
Vancouver
Paušek-Baždar S. Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451). Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2024 December 28];42.(2 (84)):271-282. Available from: https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818
IEEE
S. Paušek-Baždar, "Alchemical experiments of Queen Barbara of Celj (1381–1451)", Prilozi za istraživanje hrvatske filozofske baštine, vol.42., no. 2 (84), pp. 271-282, 2016. [Online]. Available: https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818. [Accessed: 28 December 2024]
Abstract
Queen and Empress Barbara of Celj (1381–1451), daughter of Herman II, Count of Celj, and second wife of the Croato-Hungarian king Sigismund I of Luxemburg, performed alchemic experiments in the cellar of her castle in Samobor, of which she left no written evidence. However, we learn of her alchemical activity thanks to an excerpt from Via universalis by the Bohemian alchemist Johann von Laaz. Apparently, Laaz’s work has not survived, yet the account of Barbara’s alchemical experiments was published in the work Chymische Schriften (1740) by Basilius Valentinus.
At the turn of the fifteenth century, copper was largely exploited from the Samobor mines, which might explain why Barbara devoted herself to the transmutation of copper into silver and gold by means of the philosopher’s stone. According to Laaz, the products of transmutation showed no resistance to fire, because of which he undervalued her skill. Laaz was not highly admired in the European scientific circles, nor was his opinion given much credibility. Therefore, it is hard to say whether Barbara was a genuine alchemist driven by scientific motives, or a mere charlatan motivated by greed for wealth. Whatever the case, it is a very early contribution to the history of alchemy in Croatia.
Keywords
Barbara Celjska / Barbara of Celj; Johann von Laaz; Basilius Valentinus; transmutation of metals; copper; alchemy; alchemy in Croatia
Hrčak ID:
178818
URI
https://hrcak.srce.hr/178818
Publication date:
29.3.2017.
Article data in other languages:
croatian
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