Alchemy

Alchemy is an art that began as early as ancient Egypt and became popular in European culture in the 1200's. During this time, alchemists made discoveries that created the basis for modern sciences like chemistry, mineralogy, metallurgy and medicine as well as making developments in philosophy and religion. Practitioners believed in purity of mind, body, and spirit and sought out mystical substances that would grant it to them. Little is known as to what was truly discovered as most work done on the topic was written down in cryptic code to "safeguard its power". This strange mix of science, philosophy and mysticism has laid the groundwork for much of what we know today.