The Forge and the Crucible (French: Forgerons et alchimistes) is a 1956 book by the Romanian historian of religion Mircea Eliade. It traces historical rites and symbols associated with mines, smiths and other metal workers. An English translation by Stephen Corrin was published in 1962.[1] A second edition, with an updated appendix and the subtitle "The Origins and Structure of Alchemy," was published in 1979.[2]
 Cover of the first edition | |
| Author | Mircea Eliade |
|---|---|
| Original title | Forgerons et alchimistes |
| Translator | Stephen Corrin |
| Language | French |
| Publisher | Flammarion |
Publication date | 1956 |
| Publication place | France |
Published in English | 1962 |
| Pages | 209 |
Contents
editThe book contains the following chapters:
- Meteorites and Metallurgy
- Mythology of the Iron Age
- The World Sexualized
- Terra Mater. Petra Genitrix
- Rites and Mysteries in Metallurgy
- Human Sacrifices to the Furnace
- Babylonian Symbolisms and Metallurgical Rituals
- 'Masters of Fire'
- Divine Smiths and Civilizing Heroes
- Smiths, Warriors, Masters of Initiation
- Chinese Alchemy
- Indian Alchemy
- Alchemy and Initiation
- Arcana Artis
- Alchemy and Temporality[2]
Reception
editKirkus Reviews wrote in 1962: "This book, translated from the French, is well documented. Any serious student of man will be well rewarded for the effort expended, and demanded, by this solid exposition of an unusual subject."[3]
References
edit- ^ The Forge and the Crucible. OCLC 752675854. Retrieved 2016-05-28 – via WorldCat.
- ^ a b Eliade, Mircea. The Forge and the Crucible: The Origins and Structure of Alchemy. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
- ^ "The Forge and the Crucible". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2016-05-28.
External links
edit- French publicity page (in French)
- American publicity page
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