Anonymous
6/18/2025, 5:56:57 PM No.40555280
Maria the Jewess also called Maria Hebraea or Maria Prophetissa was an early foundational alchemist likely active in Alexandria Egypt between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD She is one of the earliest known alchemists and one of the first named women in science
Her key contributions include
* Inventing crucial alchemical apparatus like the **tribikos** an early three-armed distillation device
* Inventing the **kerotakis** a steam-heated vessel for sublimation and gentle heating Its principle survives as the **bain-marie** double boiler named after her
* Developing furnaces and flasks for alchemical operations
She made significant theoretical contributions
* Her famous aphorism One becomes Two Two becomes Three and out of the Third comes the One as the Fourth described alchemical transformation
* She strongly associated with the concept linking the macrocosm universe and microcosm human/lab often summarized as As Above So Below
* She described the alchemical Great Work stages by color changes blackening whitening yellowing reddening
No original writings survive We know her work through quotes and descriptions by later alchemists primarily **Zosimos of Panopolis** c 300 AD who revered her as a master Her title Prophetissa reflects her high esteem for spiritual insight into matter Her inventions and ideas profoundly influenced alchemy and early chemistry
Her key contributions include
* Inventing crucial alchemical apparatus like the **tribikos** an early three-armed distillation device
* Inventing the **kerotakis** a steam-heated vessel for sublimation and gentle heating Its principle survives as the **bain-marie** double boiler named after her
* Developing furnaces and flasks for alchemical operations
She made significant theoretical contributions
* Her famous aphorism One becomes Two Two becomes Three and out of the Third comes the One as the Fourth described alchemical transformation
* She strongly associated with the concept linking the macrocosm universe and microcosm human/lab often summarized as As Above So Below
* She described the alchemical Great Work stages by color changes blackening whitening yellowing reddening
No original writings survive We know her work through quotes and descriptions by later alchemists primarily **Zosimos of Panopolis** c 300 AD who revered her as a master Her title Prophetissa reflects her high esteem for spiritual insight into matter Her inventions and ideas profoundly influenced alchemy and early chemistry
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