Alchemical and astrological symbols used by John Ward in V.a.287 and V.a.291

Revision as of 08:37, 14 September 2021 by EmilyWahl (talk | contribs)

V.a.287 and V.a.291 are diaries kept by John Ward, vicar of Stratford-upon-Avon from 1662 to 1681 and a medical physician. V.a.287 was used at several times: Oxford in September 1658 (fol. 1r-9v) and Stratford from February to October 1665 (fol. 10r-67v), spring and summer of 1666 (fol. 68r-ca. 100), and from 1668 to 1671 (ca. fol. 100-150v). V.a.291 was kept at Oxford and London from January 1660/61 to 14 February 1661/62. A note on back inside cover states that the book was finished at his "chambers in the Bell in Aldersgate street." For more information on Ward, see John Ward's Latin and A Semi-Diplomatic Transcription of Selections from the John Ward Diaries.

This list was compiled by Dr. Robert Tallaksen, a reader and transcriber at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Alchemical and astrological symbols

The following symbols appear on leaf one recto and verso of V.a.287 and leaf 164 recto and verso of V.a.291. Those symbols that appear only in V.a.291 are so indicated in the "Notes" column.

Name Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Acetum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Acetum distillatum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Aer Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Alembicus Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Alumen Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Amphora/ Amphoræ Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Amalgama Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Ana Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Antimonium Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Aqua Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Aqua fortis Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Aqua regia (or stygia) Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Arcitenens Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Arena Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Argentum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Argentum vivum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Aries Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Arsenicum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Auripigmentum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Aurum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Balneum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Balneum Mariæ Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Balneum vaporis Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Calx Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Calx viva Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Cancer Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Caper Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Caput mortuum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Chalybs Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Cinabaris Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Cineres Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Cornu Cervi Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Crucibulum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Cuprum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Distillare Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Dies Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Drachma Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
fferrum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Gemini Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Hora Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Ignis Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Iupiter Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Leo Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Libra Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
libra Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Luna Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Mars Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Mercurius sublimatus Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Mercurius præcipitatus Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Mensis Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Nitrum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Oleum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Oppositio Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Pisces Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Plumbum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Pulvis Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Præcipitare Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Quadratus Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Quintessentia or Quinta Essentia Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Retorta Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Sal ammoniac(um) Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Sal commune Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Sal gemmæ Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Sal nitrum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Saturnus Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Scorpius Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Sol Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Spiritus Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Spiritus vini Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Stannum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Stratum super stratum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Sublimatum or sublimare Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Sulphur Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Talcum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Tartar(um) Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Taurus Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Terra Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Trigonus Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Venus Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Vinum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Virgo Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Viridi æris Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Vitriolum Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes
Vrina Image Symbol Entity HTML English equivalent Notes