Alchemy was a widespread practice in the Islamicate world that was taught from early on to the 19th/20th century. In spite of its popularity attested to by historical references as well as the wealth of alchemical manuscripts that have come down to us, the study of Arabo-Islamic alchemy has been neglected for several decades. Notwithstanding a renewed interest in the field in recent years, scholars are still struggling to come to terms with seminal alchemical texts and central aspects of Islamic alchemy like the terminology and codes used by alchemists, or alchemy as a practice and science in its social contexts.
The workshop, organized jointly by Prof. Dr. Regula Forster, University of Zurich/Freie Universität Berlin, and Gotha Research Library, aims to close some of these research gaps by bringing together established and younger scholars working on alchemy and by providing them with the opportunity to engage directly with the alchemical manuscripts of the Gotha collection. The panels will focus on the Gotha collection, the foundations of Islamicate Alchemy, on Decknamen, Terminology, and Codes, on alchemy as a practical art and science, as well as on alchemy as literature and visual art. By addressing these topics we also hope to lay the foundations for future transregional research on alchemy.

Conference Conveners:
Monika Hasenmüller, Gotha Research Library, University of Erfurt
Prof. Dr. Regula Forster, University of Zurich

Contact:
Forschungsbibliothek Gotha der Universität Erfurt
Tel.: +49(0)361/737-5540
bibliothek.gotha(at)uni-erfurt.de

To attend the workshop please register at bibliothek.gotha(at)uni-erfurt.de.