Pseudo-Aquinas. Aurora Consurgens. 1400s.
The Aurora Consurgens is an illuminated manuscript of the 15th century. It contains a medieval alchemical treatise, in the past sometimes attributed to Thomas Aquinas, now to a writer called the "Pseudo-Aquinas". Aurora Consurgens is a commentary on the Latin translation of Silvery Waters by Senior Zadith (Ibn Umayl). Unusual for a work of this type, the manuscript contains thirty-seven fine miniatures in watercolour. The illustrations are allegorical representations of alchemical elements depicted in human or animal form. For example, mercury is depicted as a serpent; gold as the Sun and silver as the Moon. These illustrations incorporate some of the earliest Greek alchemical symbols known, found in Zosimos’ of Panopolis Authentic Memoirs.