86 
Athanasius Kirch er also states that the manuscript in the 
library of the Vatican has chymice and not Alchymice.^ 
Firmicus does not give any explanation of this term. 
However another writer, who probably lived at the same 
time, if not earlier, explains it. Zosimus, the Panopolite, 
according to Georgios Synkellos, a writer of the ninth 
century, states that ^Y]yda (or ')(yfxda, as some manuscripts 
have) meant the art .of making gold or silver. "f* 
The curious passage in which this word occurs is the 
following : — - 
“ The sacred Scriptures inform us that there exists a tribe 
of genii, who make use of women. Hermes mentions this 
circumstance in his Physics; and almost every writing 
(Xoyoc)j whether sacred (^avepoc) or apocryphal, states the 
same thing. The ancient and divine Scriptures inform us 
that the angels, captivated by women, taught them all the 
operations of nature. Offence being taken at this, they 
remained out of heaven, because they had taught mankind 
all manner of evil, and things which could not be advanta- 
geous to their souls. The Scriptures inform us that the 
giants sprang from their embraces. Chema is the first of 
their traditions respecting these arts. The book itself they 
called Chema ; hence the art is called Chemia” 
It is not difficult to trace the origin of this myth. We 
find it first in Genesis, chap. vi. : “ And it came to pass, 
when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and 
daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw 
the daughters of men that they were fair, and they took 
them wives of all which they chose.” 
“ There were giants in the earth in those days ; and also 
after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters 
of men, and they bare children to them, the same became 
mighty men, which were of old, men of renown.” 
* Kopp, loc. cit. 9. 
t Thomson’s History of Chemistry, 5, 
