VB

(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for bath of vapors, balneum vaporis


MB

(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for bath of Mary, balneum mariae


QE

(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for quintessence, quinta essentia


AR

(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation of aqua regia

(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation of la:balneum arenae (“sand bath”)

(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation of la:lapis armenus (“Armenian stone”)


A stylized representation of a scorpion with a stinging tail.


A (copper/bronze) handmirror, symbol of the Greek goddess Aphrodite (and her Roman equivalent Venus). The cross was added in the 16th century to Christianize the symbol of a pagan god.


The circle and arrow represent the shield and spear, respectively, of the Ancient Greek god of war Ares (and his Ancient Roman equivalent Mars). In the Medieval era the spear had crossed in front of the shield, and the ancient form lacked the shield altogether.


The lunar crescent is an ancient symbol for the moon.
Its orientation varies between increscent and decrescent.

Firſt of all bring Copper with ☿ ſublimate, and fixt Arſenick to bee white, yea as white as ☾, then beat it ſmall.

1650, Paracelsus, “Of the Nature of Things”, in John French, transl., A New Light of Alchymie (in English), page 74:


(Christianity, astronomy): A globus cruciger (the globe surmounted by a Christian cross), representing Christ's or the Church's rule over the redeemed world. Alchemical extension to newly-discovered antimony, motivated by an attempt to retain an association between the basic metals and the known planets. Astronomical use is reinforced by the graphic similarity to the symbol ⟨♀⟩ for Venus, which is the planet that is most similar to Earth.

(alchemy) Stibnite (antimony ore, Sb₂S₃).


A simple caduceus (☤) of the Greek god Hermes (and his Roman equivalent Mercury), as seen with a much longer staff in stylized representations of that god e.g. on pottery. The cross was added in the 16th century to Christianize the symbol of a pagan god.

As a man may return into the womb of his mother, i.e. into the Earth, out of which hee was firſt made a man, and ſhall again bee raiſed at the laſt day: ſo alſo all Metalls may returne into living ☿ againe, and become ☿, and by Fire bee regenerated, and purified, if for the ſpace of forty weeks, they bee kept in a continuall heat, as an infant is in his Mothers wombe.

1650, Paracelsus, “Of the Nature of Things”, in John French, transl., A New Light of Alchymie, page 11:

Then turned I up the Glaſs, and there appeared a thouſand ſparks, like very crude ☿ bright and ſhining, marvelous to ſight

1683, anonymous author, The Practice of Lights: Or an Excellent and Ancient Treatise of the Philosophers Stone, page 29; reprinted in Collectanea Chymica: A Collection of Ten Several Treatises in Chymistry, 1684:


T

From the Etruscan letter 𐌕 (t, “te”), from the Ancient Greek letter Τ (T, “tau”), derived from the Phoenician letter 𐤕 (t, “taw”), from the Egyptian hieroglyph 𓏴.

(archaic, alchemy) a crucible [abbreviation of tigillum; see 🝨.]


(alchemy, obsolete) The symbol for bismuth in Torbern Bergman's work (1775).


A stylized representation of a lion's head and tail.


Unknown, but it has been suggested that the symbol derives from a letter M for (the Virgin) Mary in the Middle Ages, though the sign had earlier been identified with the goddess Ceres/Demeter. It has also been suggested to be a ligature of Greek παρ (par), for Ancient Greek παρθένος (parthénos, “maiden”).


(alchemy, archaic) Symbol for sublimation


A stylized representation of the chimeric capricorn (head and forelegs of a goat, curling tail of a fish).

(alchemy, archaic) fermentation, putrefaction


A stylized representation of (ripples of) water.


A pair of fish; the stroke joining them is relatively recent.


The Greek letter Zeta with an abbreviation stroke, for Ζεύς (Zeús), the Greek equivalent to the Roman god Jupiter. The form changed from Classical and early Medieval ⟨Ƶ⟩ to one with a more salient cross, ⟨♃⟩, in the 15th–16th century, at about the time that Christian crosses were added to ⟨☿⟩, ⟨♀⟩ and ⟨♄⟩, and so may have had a similar motivation.

If thou wilt turne ♄ into ♃ make plates of ♄, ſtrow them with Salt Armoniack, cement, and melt them, as aboveſaid, ſo will all the blackneſſe, and darkneſſe bee taken away from the Lead, and it will be in whiteneſſe like fair Engliſh Tin.


The Greek letters kappa-rho with an abbreviation stroke at bottom, for Κρόνος (Krónos), the Greek equivalent to the Roman god Saturn. The cross at top was added later, to Christianize the symbol of a pagan god.


The trident of Neptune, the Ancient Roman god of the sea.

bismuth (alternative)
Ψ (alternative)
psi (alternative)


The shield of the sun god Apollo, with a boss in the center. Medieval replacement of ⟨🜚⟩, the sun with a single ray, which in ancient times had replaced a sun orb surrounded by multiple rays.
Compare the Egyptian hieroglyph ⟨⟩ and the Chinese character ⟨⟩, both of which mean 'sun' and 'day'.

But that the five leſſer, and impurer Metalls, viz. ♀ ♃ ♄ ♂ and ☿ may be tranſmuted into the greater, pureſt, and moſt perfect Metalls, viz. into ☉ and ☾, it cannot be done without the Tincture, or Philoſophers ſtone.

1650, Paracelsus, “Of the Nature of Things”, in John French, transl., A New Light of Alchymie, page 73:


(alchemy, obsolete) [unidentified iron compound, possibly same meaning as ⚦ and/or ⚨.]


(possibly)

(possibly)

(alchemy, obsolete) crocus of iron, crocus martis (red or yellow calcined powder of iron).


(alchemy, archaic) an hour. Dedicated Unicode character ⟨🝮⟩. May occur with or without a cross-bar at the waist. Lobes may be triangular or cordiform, or the design may be a more elaborate pictogram.


ss

(pharmacy, alchemy) Apothecary symbol for half.


(alchemy, rare) quicksilver, contrasting with ☾ for silver.


(alchemy) air, aer (one of the Classical element)


It is of a Strange and wonderful Origin, it has inexhaustible properties, it is neither hot nor dry like 🜂, nor Cold nor humid like 🜄, nor Cold nor dry like 🜃, but it is a mixture of all the Elements;

1797, Sigismund Bacstrom, transl., Chemical Moon-Shine: Wherein is Demonstrated the True Subject of Philosophy, Where We are to Look for it, & How it is to be Prepared (in English):

(alchemy) fire, ignis (one of the Classical element)


(alchemy) earth, terra (one of the Classical element)


(alchemy) water, aqua (one of the Classical element)


The elemental symbol for 'water', ⟨🜄⟩, plus ⟨R⟩ for 'regia'; often rendered ⟨🜄Ꝛ⟩.

(alchemy, archaic) symbol/abbreviation for aqua regia


The elemental symbol 🜄 (“water”) plus F for fortis (“strong, powerful”).

(alchemy, archaic) symbol/abbreviation for aqua fortis (nitric acide, HNO₃)


(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for spiritus vini, otherwise known as aqua vitae


At least in sense [2], this is a cross for the root crux in 'crucible', which is sometimes written ⟨🜊ᵇˡᵉ⟩.

Cf. for distilled vinegar

(alchemy, archaic) vinegar, acid. Usually combined with other symbols, e.g. ⟨🜊🜕⟩ or ⟨🜕🜊⟩ nitrous/nitric acid, ⟨🜊🜔⟩ 'marine' (hydrochloric?) acid, ⟨🜊🜿⟩ tartaric acid, ⟨🜊🝄⟩ boric acid, ⟨🜊🜖⟩ vitriolic (sulfuric) acid, ⟨🜊f ⟩ formic acid, etc.

(alchemy, archaic) crucible, crucibulum. (A cross for crux.)


(alchemy, archaic) sulphur/sulfur, brimstone


(2): interpreted as brimstone rather than sulfur residue, and adopted as a cross-like symbol for LaVey satanism

(alchemy, archaic) black sulfur AKA horse sulfur, sulphur nigra, a residue used as a dye


philosopher's sulfur
philosopher's sulfur


(alchemy, archaic) mercury sublimate (mercuric chloride, HgCl₂)


(alchemy, archaic) table salt (typically NaCl)


(alchemy, archaic) nitre, saltpetre (KNO₃)


(alchemy, archaic) vitriol (metal sulfate, XSO₄, usually FeSO₄ or CuSO₄)


(alchemy, archaic) rock salt, sal gemmae

(alchemy, archaic) bismuth (in the works of Torbern Bergman)


A solar disk with a single ray; simplified from a disk with a halo of rays

ϣⲁⲕⲧⲗⲱϥ ⲉⲡ🜚

(alchemy, archaic) symbol or logogram of the same era for gold


*⟨♂⟩ iron, plus a circle for a bearing mineral (γη 'earth') that dates back at least to the medieval Marcianus graecus 299 manuscript, and continuing an older tradition.

(obsolete, alchemy) iron-bearing mineral or iron ore


*⟨♀⟩ copper, plus a circle for a bearing mineral (γη 'earth') that dates back at least to the medieval Marcianus graecus 299 manuscript, continuing an older tradition.

(obsolete, alchemy) copper-bearing mineral or copper ore


(alchemy, archaic) marcasite (iron pyrite, fool's gold)


(archaic, alchemy) sal ammoniac (ammonium chloride, NH₄Cl)

(obsolete, alchemy) star regulus (antimony metal, Sb)


(archaic, alchemy) alkali, sal alkali (probably sodium or potassium hydroxide, NaOH or KOH).

(obsolete, alchemy) cobalt (in the works of Torbern Bergman)


(archaic, alchemy) realgar (arsenic sulfide)


(archaic, alchemy) tartar (impure potassium tartrate, KH(C₂H₂O₃)₂)


(alchemy, obsolete) manuscript abbreviation of ⟨🝃⟩ borax


(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation of tincture


(alchemy, archaic) an abbreviation for calx, calcinare


(obsolete, alchemy) symbol of a trident in Newton's alchemical writing


(alchemy, archaic) horse dung, fimus equinus


When the 🜔 of Wisdom or Lapis philosophorum has passed its 7 Imbibitions and is thorougly^([sic]) fixed, take thereof One part and three parts of pure ☉ and let them melt together in a good 🝥, with a Lid luted on, and Keep it in fusion during 3 or 4 days in the 🜂, and the added ☉ will become brittle and glassy and become the metallic tinging Medicine.

(obsolete, alchemy) an abbreviated alchemical symbol for crucible, tigillum


(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for amalgam, amalgamate


* Inverse of the Libra symbol 🝞 for sublimation. There are four related symbols: 🝞 for sublimation and 🝇 for vapor; 🝟 for precipitation and for earth.


(alchemy, archaic) tutty, tutia, aes viride (crude zinc oxide sublimate)


(obsolete, alchemy) starred ⟨🝑⟩ trident in Newton's alchemical writing


(alchemy) star regulus, regulus stellatus (antimony metal, Sb)


A proposed alchemical symbol for platinum, derived from the symbols for the planetary metals gold ⟨☉⟩ and iron ⟨♂⟩, as platinum (previously known as 'white gold') was often found mixed with iron. This symbol for the newly discovered metal platinum was created in order to have a symbol to apply to the newly discovered planet Uranus.


(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for aqua regia

(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for balneum arenae (sand bath)

(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for lapis armenus (Armenian stone)


(alchemy) star regulus (antimony metal, Sb; archaic)


(astronomy, alchemy): The four quarters of the world, divided by the four rivers out of Eden and surrounded by the Ocean Sea. Later interpreted as a globe with equator and line meridian.
(meteorology): A sun cross


(alchemy, archaic) symbol for aqua vitae


A simplified skull. Variants may look like ⟨💀⟩.


*(alchemy): Unclear derivation from ⟨♂⟩ iron. May have either a cross-bar ⟨⟩ or a dot ⟨⟩.
*(LGBT): Combination of ⟨♂⟩ and ⟨♀⟩.

(alchemy, obsolete) crocus of iron, crocus martis (red or yellow calcined powder of iron).


Rotated ⟨🝗⟩ 'ashes', often with a cross added at bottom. Sometimes the 'pot' is filled with short disconnected pen strokes.

(not necessarily potash)

(alchemy, archaic) pot ashes (cineres clavellati, alumen)


(alchemy, archaic) distilled vinegar, acetic acid. Cf. 🜊 acid.


(alchemy, archaic, rare) a hapax legomenon in Isaac Newton's writing, thought to be a variant of ⟨🜖⟩, the symbol for vitriol


* ⟨♃⟩ tin, plus a circle for a bearing mineral (γη 'earth') that dates back at least to the medieval Marcianus graecus 299 manuscript, and continuing an older tradition.

(obsolete, alchemy) A tin-bearing mineral or ore.


* ⟨♄⟩ lead, plus a circle for a bearing mineral (γη 'earth') that dates back at least to the medieval Marcianus graecus 299 manuscript, and continuing an older tradition.

(obsolete, alchemy) Newtonian symbol for lead ore


*⟨♁⟩ antimony plus the traditional circle for mineral or ore.

(obsolete, alchemy) Newtonian symbol for antimony ore, i.e. stibnite


(obsolete, alchemy) Newtonian symbol for an antimony salt


A fusion of ⟨♁⟩ antimony and ⟨🜋⟩ vinegar. The dots in the symbol for vinegar are frequently run together to resemble ⟨🜹⟩.

(obsolete, alchemy) Newtonian symbol for vinegar of antimony


A rotated ⟨Є⟩ shape for 'calx' with a cross at bottom for calx viva i.e. quicklime.

(alchemy, archaic) any calx (the object of calcination, prototypically lime)


(obsolete, alchemy) one of several symbols for regulus


*Neptune's trident ⟨⟩ plus the traditional circle for mineral or ore. The trident, as an emblem of Poseidon, was one of several symbols for bismuth.

(obsolete, alchemy) Newtonian symbol for tinglass (bismuth ore)


(alchemy, archaic) a 24-hour period (day & night)


A 'crown of calcination/smelting': a crown ⟨🜰/🜲⟩ or ⟨🜵⟩ regulus at top and ⟨♈⟩ or ⟨🜴⟩ at bottom; the last includes ⟨♈⟩ calcination.

(alchemy, archaic) Regulus of iron, regulus martis: metallic antimony prepared by use of iron; scoria from refining stibnite (antimony ore) with iron.


(alchemy): a fusion of ⟨♁⟩ antimony and ⟨🜹⟩ or ⟨⚹⟩ sal-ammoniac
:(astronomy): combination of a star and an orb. May be a six-point star.

(obsolete, alchemy) sublimate of antimony (stibnite) and sal ammoniac


*a fusion of ⟨♀⟩ copper and ⟨🜹⟩ sal-ammoniac.

(obsolete, alchemy) antimoniate sublimate of copper


(archaic, alchemy) auripigment/orpiment (arsenic trisulfide)


(alchemy, archaic) powdered brick: later cibratus, farina laterum


(alchemy, obsolete) dissolve, dissolution, solvere


(alchemy, archaic) an abbreviated alchemical symbol for distill, sublimate.


(obsolete, alchemy) crocus of copper: crocus veneris, aes ustum


(obsolete, alchemy) copper antimoniate, lapis haematites

(obsolete, alchemy) crocus of copper: crocus veneris


(alchemy, archaic) rock salt, sal gemmae


(alchemy, archaic, rare) a rare variant of ⟨🜐⟩ found in Isaac Newton's writing


(alchemy, archaic, rare) an abbreviated variant of ⟨🜋⟩ found in the writing of Isaac Newton


(obsolete, alchemy, rare) probably a variant of the symbol ⟨🜜⟩ for iron-bearing mineral or ore


(alchemy, archaic, rare) crocus of iron. A variant of ⟨⚨⟩ found in the writing of Isaac Newton.


(obsolete, alchemy) a variant of ⟨🜻⟩ found i.a. in the writing of Isaac Newton


(obsolete, alchemy) a variant of ⟨🝩⟩ found in the writing of Isaac Newton


(obsolete, alchemy) crucible, cupel tigillum


The more distinctive form is possibly a fusion of ⟨🜊⟩ (a Greek cross, for crucibulum) and ⟨T⟩ (a Latin 'T', an abbreviation of tigillum).

(archaic, alchemy) crucible tigillum, crucibulum


(alchemy, archaic) fermentation, putrefaction


*⟨♀⟩ copper and ⟨♂⟩ iron (cf. ⟨⚥⟩), plus a circle for a bearing mineral (γη 'earth').

(obsolete, alchemy, rare) probably a symbol for an iron and copper-bearing mineral or ore


(archaic, alchemy) tartar (impure potassium tartrate)


*a fusion of ⟨🜥⟩ copper antimoniate and ⟨🜔⟩ salt

(obsolete, alchemy) A copper antimoniate salt; crystalline 🜥.


*a fusion of ⟨🜭⟩ antimony salt and ⟨🜹⟩ or ⟨⚹⟩ sal-ammoniac

(obsolete, alchemy) Newtonian symbol for a sublimate of an antimony salt


*a fusion of ⟨🜦⟩ copper antimoniate salt and ⟨🜹⟩ or ⟨⚹⟩ sal-ammoniac

(obsolete, alchemy) A sublimate of copper antimoniate salt.


Possibly ⟨T⟩ or ⟨🝨⟩ crucible, tigillum at top and ⟨♈⟩ calcination at bottom.


A pictograph of a crown (thus regulus) or of a flower

(obsolete, alchemy) One of the several symbols for regulus.

(obsolete, alchemy) Specifically, regulus of antimony; that is, antimony metal.


(obsolete, alchemy) regulus of antimony; that is, antimony metal


(obsolete, alchemy) symbol of a caduceus in Newton's alchemical writing


(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for stratum super stratum (layer upon layer)


The letters SSS, lined-through in order to indicate an abbreviation.

(alchemy, archaic) an alternative form of 🝜 stratum super stratum


*⟨S⟩ for solvere with an abbreviation stroke

(alchemy, archaic) dissolve, dissolution, solvere


𝒬

(alchemy, archaic) abbreviation for quintessence, quinta essentia


A ligature of the symbols for the planetary metals gold ⟨☉⟩ and silver ⟨☽⟩, a calque on the name 'white gold' for platinum.


(alchemy) Metal leaf or foil, when combined with the governing planet for the metal.


Earth symbol (medieval)

Earth symbol (canonical)
medieval (alternative)

An inverted vapor symbol 🝇, found as a symbol for 'earth' i.a. in the medieval Venetian manuscript Marcianus graecus.

Unsupported titles/Earth symbol (medieval)


* (alchemy): crux as an abbreviation of crucibulum

[in English]