List of alchemists

Depiction of Mary the Jewess, considered the first non-fictitious Western alchemist. From Michael Maier's Symbola Aurea Mensae Duodecim Nationum (1617)

An alchemist is a person versed in the art of alchemy. Western alchemy flourished in Greco-Roman Egypt, the Islamic world during the Middle Ages, and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Indian alchemists and Chinese alchemists made contributions to Eastern varieties of the art. Alchemy is still practiced today by a few, and alchemist characters still appear in recent fictional works and video games.

A large number of alchemists are known from the thousands of surviving alchemical manuscripts and books. Some of their names are listed below. Due to the tradition of pseudepigraphy, the true author of some alchemical writings may differ from the name most often associated with that work. Some well-known historical figures such as Albertus Magnus and Aristotle are often incorrectly named amongst the alchemists as a result.

Legendary alchemists

• Hermes Trismegistus
• Ostanes, the Persian
• Nicolas Flamel

Alchemists in Greco-Roman Egypt

2

Indian alchemists

• Kanada, sage and philosopher (6th century BC)
• Nagarjuna, the 10th century South Indian king
• Yogi Vemana
• Siddhar Tamil sage and philosophers
• Nayanmars Tamil sage and philosophers
• Alvars Tamil sage and philosophers
• Vallalar, Tamil 18th Century sage and philosopher
• Arunagirinathar Tamil 15th Century sage and philosopher
• Karunakara swamigal Tamil 19th Century

Chinese alchemists

• Wei Boyang
• Zhang Guo the Elder (c. 600)

Islamic alchemists

Further information: Alchemy and chemistry in medieval Islam

• Khalid ibn Yazid, "Calid" (d. 704)
• Jābir ibn Hayyān, "Geber" (c. 721 – 815)
• Dhul-Nun al-Misri (b. 796)
• Al-Farabi, "Alfarabi" (870 – 950/951)
• Al-Kindi, "Alkindus" (801 – 873), a critic of alchemy
• Ibn Umail, circa 900 AD
• Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi, "Rhazes" (864 – 930)
• Abu Ali al-Husain ibn Abdallah ibn Sina, "Avicenna" (980 – 1037), a critic of alchemy, Father of modern Medicine
• Al-Tughrai (1061–1121)
• Artephius (c. 1150)

European alchemists

2

Revival and modern alchemists

• Frater Albertus (Dr. Albert Reidel) (1911–1984)
• Eugène Canseliet (1899–1982)
• Marie-Louise von Franz (1915–1998)
• Carl Jung (1875 – 1961)
• Max Magnus Norman (1973 – )
• Terrence McKenna (1946–2000)
• Diane Di Prima (1932 – )

Fictional alchemists

2

See also

• List of astrologers
• List of occultists
• Adam McLean
• Arthur Edward Waite
• Carl Jung
• Herbert Silberer
• Rudolf Steiner
• Titus Burckhardt