Zosimos of Panopolis

The copy of "Keys of Mercy and Secrets of Wisdom" under consideration was written in two parts designated, "Part One, Introduction" by Al-Tughra'i", and Part Two, "From Keys of Wisdom by Zosimos" translated to Arabic by Ibn Al-Hassan Ibn Ali Al-Tughra'i'.

Zosimos of Panopolis was a gnostic philosopher. He was born in Panopolis, present day Akhmim in the south of Egypt, and flourished ca. 300 A.D. He lived in Alexandria, and traveled to many parts of the Hellenic world.

In about 300 AD, Zosimos provided one of the first definitions of alchemy as the study of “the composition of waters, movement, growth, embodying and disembodying, drawing the spirits from bodies and bonding the spirits within bodies.”

He wrote the oldest known books on alchemy, which he called "Cheirokmeta," using the Greek word for "things made by hand." Pieces of this work survive in the original Greek language and in translations into Syriac or Arabic.

Zosimos of Panopolis combined practical know-how and observations with theoretical and philosophical frameworks to create a discipline that involved both theory and practice.

Although Zosimos was a prolific writer, all his books have been lost and what remains of them today are mere passages and quotes written in the original Greek language, or translated to Syriac or Arabic.
Zosimos of Panopolis

Aristarchus of Samos (310 -230 BC)

Aristarchus of Samos was born on the small but important and wealthy island of Samos. He is credited as the first to develop a sun-centered model of the cosmos.

He was a pupil of Strato of Lampsacus, a natural philosopher of originality, who succeeded Theophrastus as head of the Peripatetic school in 288 or 287 BC and held that position for eighteen years.

In 280/281 BC he made an observation of the summer solstice; and the book in which he formulated his heliocentric hypothesis was published.

In his little treatise On the Sizes and Distances of the Sun and Moon Aristarchus determined the rations of the Sun’s and Moon’s distances from Earth, as well as the ratios of their sizes to the size of the Earth.

He formed a triangle between the moon, Earth and sun and applied known geometry of right triangles to solve the problems.

Aristarchus was called ‘the mathematician’, doubtless in order to distinguish him from the many other persons of the same name; he is included by Vitruvius among the few great men who possessed an equally profound knowledge of all branches of science, geometry, astronomy, music etc

Aristarchus' crowning achievement was the hypothesis he put forward regarding the solar system, wherein he anticipated Copernicus.
Aristarchus of Samos (310 -230 BC)

Horace: World's first autobiographer

Quintus Horatius Flaccus (December 8, 65 BC – November 27, 8 BC) was born at the city of Apulia.

His father was a propertied freedman of a small farm in the vicinity of that place from which he afterwards removed to Rome, when his son had attained the age of nine or ten years in order to afford him the benefits of a liberal education.

About the age of twenty-one, Horace was sent to Athens to complete his education. Horace was 21 when the assassination of Julius Caesar precipitated 17 years of civil war. In 44 BC he joined Brutus’ faction and in 42 he fought as an officer at the battle of Philippi, where Brutus was defeated.

When Horace returned to Rome in 41 BC his land had been confiscated. He joined the civil service and forced by poverty, turned to writing. He became a friend of Virgil and in 38 BC met Maecenas, who became his patron. Horace rose to be the supreme lyric poet of his time.

Augustus courted Horace’s friendship. The emperor Augustus gave him a farm in the Sabine hills.

The works of Horace are numerous, displaying a knowledge of philosophy, vast vocabulary and a reliance upon common sense.
Satires 1 (c. 35–34 BC)
Satires 2 (c. 30 BC)
Epodes (30 BC)
Odes 1–3 (c. 23 BC)
Epistles 1 (c. 21 BC)
Carmen Saeculare (17 BC)
Epistles 2 (c. 11 BC)
Odes 4 (c. 11 BC)
Ars Poetica (c. 10–8 BC)
Horace: World's first autobiographer

Ptahhotep of ancient Egypt

Ptahhotep was a judge of the High Court, vizier and a close friend of King Isesi Djed-Ka-Ra Isesi of the 5th Dynasty (2450-2300 BC).

He is given credit for composing what has been acclaimed ‘The oldest book in the world’. It is the oldest writing of instruction that has remained intact. The name of the book is The Instruction of Ptahhotep.

The book begins with an explanation of why Ptahhotep wrote this treatise; he stated that he was getting old and feeble and he wanted to retire from his job.

The heart of Ptahhotep’s manuscript consists of thirty-seven principles that define and more importantly, justify certain forms of behavior as being moral.

Ptahhotep was the oldest son of an unknown king. He had the opportunity to become King himself but chose to commit himself to the Priesthood instead.
Ptahhotep of ancient Egypt 

Pliny the Elder

Pliny, the elder, one of the most learned men of ancient Rome, was born at Verona in AD 23-24. His full name was Gaius Plinius Secundus, was born into the equestrian class, one of the noble ranks of ancient Rome.

Pliny came to Rome at an early age and joined the general. Military service in the cavalry brought him to Germany.

His public career included several posts as procurator, notably of eastern Spain. He was a member of the councils of Emperors Vespasian and Titus.

Throughout his life Pliny was a prolific writer. He wrote a Natural History in thirty seven books, which are still extant. His work had great influence on later antiquity the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance, he remains a major figure in the history of science.

With topics ranging from wine making to mining, medicine to geography, the book contained as much of the ancient world’s knowledge as Pliny could gather.

His Natural History published in 77-79 AD, Pliny the Elder records several curious experiments ascribed to the neo-Pythagorean philosopher Anaxilaus of Larissa.

Anaxilaus, a Pythagorean philosopher and physician, born at Larissa, was accused of practicing magic and banished from Rome and Italy by Augustus.

He lost his life in the great eruption of mount Vesuvius, on August 25, in the year 79 AD. He was in his 56th years when he died.
Pliny the Elder

Paracelsus(1493-1541)

Paracelsus was born as Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim on November 10, 1493 at Einsiedeln. He was one of the most original and prolific authors of 16th century Europe.

Swiss physician Paracelsus wrote prolifically on medicine, philosophy, theology, and a variety of related topics.

Paracelsus attended the monastery schools of St. Paul and St. Andrae near Klagenfurt. Later he worked as an apprentice in the mines of Sigmund Fuger at Schwaz in Tyrol,

Paracelsus received strong impetus towards alchemy and his vocation for natural science and medicine. Paracelsus trained in medicine with his father. Determined to become a physician, Paracelsus then journeyed to Italy and began studying at Ferrara in 1513. He traveled widely but later went to Basel as city physician. 

His doctrine opposed the teachings of Galen and Avicenna, and his boastful manner, Paracelsus wandered throughout Europe remaining in few places for long. These wanderings widened his observations and experiences.

Paracelsus opposed the concept of humoral pathology and especially, the systemization into which it had been pressed by Galen and Avicenna.

Various legends have been current as to the nature of his death, the one most generally accepted being that he was murdered by assassin hired by his enemies while staying at an inn.
Paracelsus(1493-1541)