haima drakonteion
Egypt
1th Century
Source: Miriam Blanco Cesteros, 'Written in Blood? Decoding Some Red Inks of the Greek Magical Papyri', in WoW! Writing on Wax in Ancient Mesopotamia and Today, 2021.
Recipe Details
Ingredients
snake's blood, haima drakonteion, goldsmith's soot, aithalē chrysochoikē
Preparation Steps
The ink is composed of snake's blood and goldsmith's soot. (p. 41) Parallel recipes in alchemical texts like the Mappae clavicula suggest mixing 'Indian snake blood' with gold and heating them in a copper container until liquefied for writing. (p. 44)
Original Recipe Text
The ink is composed of snake's blood and goldsmith's soot. (p. 41) Parallel recipes in alchemical texts like the Mappae clavicula suggest mixing 'Indian snake blood' with gold and heating them in a copper container until liquefied for writing. (p. 44)
Evidence
"The ink: snake's blood and goldsmith's soot (αἷμα δρακόντειον καὶ αἰθάλη χρυσοχοϊκή)"
Remarks
The term 'snake's blood' (haima drakonteion) is argued to be a code name (Decknamen) for either the vegetal resin 'dragon's blood' or the mineral hematite stone. (p. 42-45) 'Goldsmith's soot' may refer to actual gold or a golden blend. (p. 44)
Scientific Analysis
Analytical Techniques
comparative alchemical analysis
textual analysis
Certainty Level
Disputed
Instrumentally Verified
Not Verified
Metadata
Material Type
ink
Paper TypePapyrus
ColorRed
RegionEgypt
Approx. Year50
Source Information
AuthorMiriam Blanco Cesteros, 'Written in Blood? Decoding Some Red Inks of the Greek Magical Papyri', in WoW! Writing on Wax in Ancient Mesopotamia and Today, 2021.
CollectionPGM IV 1999
Language
N/A
AI Suggestions
Find similar recipes based on ingredients and preparation methods.