What's the meaning of the Philosopher's Stone »
Philosopher's Stone
This page is about the meaning, origin and characteristic of the symbol, emblem, seal, sign, logo or flag: Philosopher's Stone.
The philosopher's stone, or lapis philosophorum ('stone of wisdom'), is perhaps the most iconic object in the study of alchemy.
Part of this symbol is actually a combination of three other symbols representing key substances used in alchemical practices. At the bottom, we see a triangle, which represents sulphur, the circle is a symbol for salt, and the circle toped with a crescent represents mercury. The smaller circle at the top resting inside a larger half circle is the alchemical symbol for 'year'.
The philosopher's stone represents the key that unlocks the final goal of the of the alchemical process. Through its use, the practitioner could transform base metal into something far more valuable (i.e. gold). The stone is also symbolic of quintessence, or the fifth element.
- 4,315 Views
Graphical characteristics:
Asymmetric, Open shape, Monochrome, Contains both straight and curved lines, Has crossing lines.
Category: Alchemical Symbols.
More symbols in Alchemical Symbols:
Alchemical symbols, originally devised as part of alchemy, were used to denote some elements and some compounds until the 18th century. Note that while notation like this was mostly standardized, sty… read more »
Citation
Use the citation below to add this symbol to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Philosopher's Stone." Symbols.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.symbols.com/symbol/philosopher%27s-stone>.
Have a discussion about Philosopher's Stone with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In