The Leyden and Stockholm Papyri - University of Cincinnati

lator has taken the liberty of numbering the recipes consecutively
although in neither the original nor in the German translations
of Lagercrantz was this done. A few short comments upon the
chemical aspects and the general technical significance of the
recipes will follow the translation.
3.2 Translation
1. Manufacture of Silver
Plunge Cyprian copper, which is well worked and shingled for use,
into dyer’s vinegar and alum and let soak for three days. Then for
every mina of copper mix in 6 drachmas each of, earth of Chios,
salt of Cappadocia and lamellose alum, and cast. Cast skillfully,
however, and it will prove to be regular silver. Place in it not more
than 20 drachmas of good, unfalsified, proof silver, which the
whole mixture retains and (this) will make it imperishable.
Many of the substances used in ancient times were named according
to their place of origin rather than from their chemical nature.
This is well shown in this recipe. The island of Cyprus was a
famous source of copper in ancient times. The term alum or
“alumen” referred to a variety of natural products which were usually
impure mixtures of iron and aluminum sulfates put up in various
forms. The “earth of Chios” was probably a kind of a clay,
while “salt of Cappadocia” was our common salt, from a chemical
point of view.
2. Another (Recipe)
THE LEYDEN & STOCKHOLM PAPYRI
Anaxilaus traces back to Democritus also the following recipe. He
rubbed common salt together with lamellose alum in vinegar and
formed very fine small cones from these and let them dry for three
days in the bath chamber. Then he ground them small, cast copper
together with them three times and cooled, quenching in sea water.
Whatever comes out will show a purification.
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