The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy

Mircea Eliade

ISBN 10: 0226203905 / ISBN 13: 9780226203904

Published by University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1978

About this Item

8vo pp.238.

Seller Inventory # 363962

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press, Chicago
• Publication Date: 1978
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0226203905
• ISBN 13: 9780226203904
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: very good
• Dust Jacket Condition: no dustjacket
• Book Type: book
• Seller catalogs:
  • Philosophy

About this title

Synopsis

Primitive man's discovery of the ability to change matter from one state to another brought about a profound change in spiritual behavior. In The Forge and the Crucible, Mircea Eliade follows the ritualistic adventures of these ancient societies, adventures rooted in the people's awareness of an awesome new power.

The new edition of The Forge and the Crucible contains an updated appendix, in which Eliade lists works on Chinese alchemy published in the past few years. He also discusses the importance of alchemy in Newton's scientific evolution.

About the Author

Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) was the Sewell L. Avery Distinguished Service Professor in the Divinity School and professor in the Committee on Social Thought at the University of Chicago. His books published by the University of Chicago Press include Autobiography, Volume II; the novel The Old Man and the Bureaucrats; the three-volume History of Religious Ideas; Ordeal by Labyrinth; and several other works on the history of religions.