# suns in alchemy ![[greenlionconsumingthesun.jpg|300]] a green lion consuming the sun is a common alchemical image and is seen in texts such as the rosary of the philosophers. the symbol is a metaphor for aqua regia (the green lion) consuming matter (the sun) gold in alchemical and hermetic traditions suns (![[sunsymbol.svg002.png]]) are used to symbolize a variety of concepts much like the sun in astrology. suns can correspond to gold citrinitas generative masculine principles imagery of "the king" or apollo the fiery spirit or sulfur the divine spark in man nobility or incorruptibility. recurring images of specific solar motifs can be found in the form of a "dark" or "black sun" or a green lion devouring the sun # sol niger ![[220px-philosophiareformataemblem9-putrefactio..jpg|300]] the black sun as pictured in the putrifaction emblem of philosophia reformata (johann daniel mylius) sol niger (black sun) can refer to the first stage of the alchemical magnum opus the nigredo (blackness.) in a text ascribed to marsilio ficino three suns are described: black white and red corresponding to the three most used alchemical colour stages. of the sol niger ey writes > the body must be dissolved in the subtlest middle air: the body is also dissolved by its own heat and humidity; where the soul the middle nature holds the principality in the colour of blackness all in the glass: which blackness of nature the ancient philosophers called the crows head or the black sun > > ~ marsilius ficinus "liber de arte chemica" the black sun is used to illuminate the dissolution of the body a blackening of matter or putrefaction in splendor solis and johann daniel mylius's philosophia reformata # see also ![[sunsymbol.svg.png]] the alchemical glyph used to represent the sun **+** alchemical symbol **+** classical planets in western alchemy **+** solar symbol # references 1. pamela smith. merchants and marvels: commerce science and art in early modern europe. routledge. 2001. p. 41 2. titus burckhardt. alchemy: science of the cosmos science of the soul. penguin. 1967. p. 91 3. marsilius ficinus "liber de arte chemica." theatrum chemicum vol. 2 geneva 1702 p. 172-183. transcribed by justin von budjoss 4. splendor solis. 1582. retrieved 2012-10-17 5. stanislas klossowski de rola. the golden garme: alchemical engravings of the seventeenth century. 1988. p. 170 180 // republic of bob