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Vol. 3, No. 10 The Leyden Papyrus X
1151
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in published editions of the work of this author.3
No English translation of the papyrus in its entirety has ever been
published as far as the writer knows. A few recipes have been published
previously by Stillman but these have been retranslated here in a more
accurate manner.4 The author has based his translation upon the work of Leemans, previously noted, and upon the French translation of Berthelot.6
An endeavor has been made to give a close literal translation. Words in
parentheses are lacking in the original, but are thought necessary to
give the proper meaning in the various places where used. Words and
phrases needing special interpretation are discussed in the form of
brief notes following each recipe. A more detailed discussion of the
general chemical significance and value of the recipes will be given
following the text of the translation.
II. The Translation
1. Purification and Hardening of Lead.
Melt it, spread on the surface lamellose alum and copperas reduced to a fine powder and mixed, and it will be hardened.
The
word alum or rather "alumen" was employed by the ancient writers as a
general term to signify a variety of products. Generally, they were
impure mixtures of sulfates of iron and aluminum. This must have been
widely used for purifying metals as the following recipes show.
2. Another {Purification) of Tin.
Lead
and white tin are also purified with pitch and bitumen. They are made
pure by having alum, salt of Cappadocia and stone of Magnesia thrown on
their surfaces.
The
ancient practice of naming chemical products and minerals according to
the place of their origin is well shown in this recipe. The "salt of
Cappadocia" probably was common salt while "stone of Magnesia" had
various meanings but generally referred to magnetic iron oxide or to
hematite.
3. Purification of Tin that is put into the Alloy of Asem.
Take
tin purified of any other substance, melt it, let it cool; after having
well mixed and covered it with.oil, melt it again; then having crushed
together some oil, some bitumen, and some salt, rub it on the metal and
melt a third time; after fusion, break apart the tin after having
purified it by washing; for it will be like hard silver. Then if you
wish to employ it in the manufacture of silver objects, of such a kind
that they cannot be found out and which have the hardness of silver,
blend 4 parts of silver and 3 parts of tin and the product will become
as a silver object.
The word asem or "asemon" was employed for alloys intended to imitate gold or silver, most generally the latter.
4. Purification of Tin.
Liquid pitch and bitumen, a part of each; throw {them on the tin), melt, stir. Dry pitch, 20 drachmas; bitumen, 12 drachmas.
3 Such as "Des Pedanios Dioskorides. . . .in funf Buchern." Translated by J. Berendes, Stuttgart, 1902.
4 Stillman, "Story of Early Chemistry," Chapter II, D. Appleton & Co., New York, 1924.
5 Contained in his "Introduction a L'Etude de la Chimie Des Anciens et du Moyen Age."
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