As these traditions of knowledge are systematized into arcane lore that derives its authority from the alien wisdom of the Egyptians and the magi, the practices of alchemy shift into the realm of things that can be labeled as magic. Although the accounts that trace the origins of Greek alchemy back to the alien wisdom of the Persian magi and the Egyptian sages are essentially a familiar kind of mythic tale of origin designed to reinforce the authority of the discourse, much of the technical knowledge that supports this lore for the manipulation of physical substances can nevertheless be clearly traced to very ancient metallurgical practices in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Such a definition hinges on the theoretical aspect, stressing the importance of considering qualities as transferrable in the abstract, but it encompasses a range of practices, from procedures to change the color of metals to rituals to purify and perfect the soul. Alchemy in the ancient Greco-Roman world may be defined as the art or craft of the transmutation of the qualities of matter. Alchemy is one of the best-known, yet most misunderstood, forms of arcane magical lore.
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