Question about Alchemical Sign (Crucified Serpent)

[JamesBryan]

I think everyone who knows about Nicholas Flamel knows about his grave and symbols.


Anyone know about the cross with the snakes?
Any links to somewhere I can research or I could read about would be great.

Thanks,
James

[deviadah]

I moved this topic to Symbolism and Imagery.

Anyone know about the cross with the snakes?

Have a look at these two threads:

The Caduceus of Hermes

The Staff of Asclepius

[JamesBryan]

Ok, but then how do we get the cross from these staffs?

[deviadah]

The Bible is filled with alchemical language, in my opinion...

Christianity is not an original religion!

Hermes is just an older Jesus... not sure why it is a cross and a snake, but it seems to have these staffs as a source. Flamel was after all an alchemist!

[JamesBryan]

But if the bible is just alchemical text like you said, then why do we have the religion vs. science controversy?

Yeah, Hermes was pretty B.A.

[deviadah]

But if the bible is just alchemical text like you said, then why do we have the religion vs. science controversy?

Because humans are stupid!

[phliosehea]

It isn't exactly smooth sailing removing thousands of years of indoctrination from whole cultures. Even within religion there is controversy, whence the denominations of belief...sadly science/reason falls far to the wayside when battling these hydras. Given that the bible is alchemical isn't an easy notion for the "true believer" to follow, and science isn't exactly the most adept at conquering allegories, parables, and metaphors in general.

[JamesBryan]

So, back on topic,

If the staff with snakes intervining is alchemy.

Then why do we have a religious symbol and a alchemical symbol together?

[deviadah]

Then why do we have a religious symbol and a alchemical symbol together?

Because religion, and in this case Christianity, stems from alchemy and other ancient esoterica. As easy as that... in my opinion!

But as always one can see any image as a representation of many different things... what do you yourself think?

[JamesBryan]

Hmm, the way I see it?

Hah, I have no idea, I will just go out on a limb.

Let me warn you, this is just a guess.
The cross means the spirituality of the soul, and the snake means the danger's of the physical body. So with that in mind, if it was with a other sign then maybe a recipe.

Again, out of a limb, the philosopher's stone recipe. and I know its crazy to believe but maybe that's why Nicholas Flamel put this, because he deciphered the book. He was the only one, besides his wife, that knew what it meant??

So this could be a crazy theory or blasphemy.

[deviadah]

Well I have never seen the serpent in a negative way. Here is an essay you might enjoy:

The Serpent - part 1
The Serpent - part 2

Also Flamel is just one of many alchemists that possessed all the secrets!

This is the image this thread is referring to (one version of it anyway):



Here's one take on the meaning:

...the Hebrew words NChSh, 'serpent', and MShICh, 'Messiah' have the same numerical value, 358. Based on this, the crucified serpent become a rather profound symbolic shortcut for what the Messiah is supposed to represent and do, viz., redeem the Children of Adam. - source

And another take:

[…] a common alchemical drawing representing the “fixing of the volatile,” or, making the elixir of mercury, a legendary curative, by removing the volatile, or poisonous element. The crucified serpent is a symbol of overcoming one’s base or materially inclined nature. - source

[JamesBryan]

Oh May I ask what that stamp is!?

[deviadah]

Oh May I ask what that stamp is!?

I don't know...

[JamesBryan]

Well now I am double-researching. Still on Alchemy, Nicholas Flamel, and the Philospher's stone, but also with alchemical signs and the cross symbols and snakes.

[solomon levi]

This is also the symbol of the crucified serpent: $


It's a symbol of fixing the volatile. The serpent is always fixed with a weapon of mars:
spear, arrow, iron nails...

In the Flamel work, IMO, this is utilising iron with stibnite to make the martial regulus.