What have the alchemists ever done for us? (was Hieroglyphs)

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Ian Pegler
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What have the alchemists ever done for us? (was Hieroglyphs)

Post by Ian Pegler »

In a recent Observer article Dr Okasha El Daly of UCL's Institute of Archaeology claimed that an Arab alchemist living in the ninth century rediscovered the meaning of the Egyptian hieroglyphic alphabet, some 800 years before Champollion.

The Arab alchemist's name was Abu Bakr Ahmad Ibn Wahshiyah.

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Re: Hieroglyphs understood by alchemist

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from The Times
Was 16th-century Scots alchemist the first man to fly?

He was judged by history as a crank, but an alchemist who jumped off the ramparts of a Scottish castle 500 years ago wearing wings made of hen feathers may have been the first man to fly.
CLICK HERE to read the article.

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Re: Predating scientific breakthroughs (was Hieroglyphs)

Post by Grahame »

Aye, y'see, us Scots hae aye done a'thing furrrrst, ye ken! :P

Thought I should rename the thread too, as the two posts don't seem otherwise related? Although better suggestions for thread title welcomed!
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The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it - Terry Pratchett.
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Re: Predating scientific breakthroughs (was Hieroglyphs)

Post by Ian Pegler »

Grahame Gardner wrote:
Thought I should rename the thread too, as the two posts don't seem otherwise related? Although better suggestions for thread title welcomed!
Both discoveries were made by alchemists, which is why I linked them.

How about: What did the alchemists ever do for us? :?:

I sound a bit like Adam Hart Davies now...or John Cleese. Whatever.

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Re: What have alchemists ever done for us? (was Hieroglyphs)

Post by Grahame »

yeah, that'll do nicely!
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The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it - Terry Pratchett.
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