Zosimos of Panopolis

Zosimos of Panopolis was an Egyptian alchemist who lived around the end of the Hellenistic period (c. 300 BC–c. AD 300). He is considered one of the earliest authentic alchemists whose work is known. Zosimos's theories were rich in imagery, discussing concepts like "movement, growth, embodying and disembodying, drawing the spirits from bodies and binding the spirits within bodies". He believed that base metals could be ennobled into gold through a process of "killing and resurrecting" them, utilizing techniques such as distillation and sublimation. Zosimos was also preoccupied with the idea of a substance that could bring about transformation instantly, which he called "the tincture" or "the philosopher's stone". His work represents a crucial stage in the development of alchemy, bridging practical techniques with theoretical concepts.1