The ancient art of Distillation
The Science of Distillation
When did humans start distilling?
Certainly before the birth of Christ. But proposing definite and absolute data is not possible.
At the beginning of its history, the alembic certainly did not distill grape marc, nor was it used to produce spirits for the pleasure of the palate. This instrument was at the basis of medical preparations of essences and fragrant balms, as well as alchemy. Through the first rudimentary alembics, what was mostly distilled was man's hope of changing one substance into another. But even if, in the past, it was not possible to transform dark and gray metals into gleaming gold, certainly the technique of distillation, driven by this anxious search, underwent its own evolution over time.
We know that a rudimentary alembic dating back to around the 2nd century BC was found in Mesopotamia. Others have been found in Shaikhan Deri in present-day Pakistan, dating back to the 2nd century BC.
An ancient written testimony refers to a certain Cleopatra, an Egyptian alchemist of the 3rd century BC. In her work on the art of transforming metals into gold, titled Chrysopoeia, she describes an alembic called Chrysopoea, used for the production of fragrant essences and perfumes, which was already used centuries earlier by Synesius of Cyrene (413-370 BC). In fact, in his letters, Synesius talks about the preparation of distilled water, which he improved with successive redistillations.
There is nothing to prevent us from thinking that other alembics had been conceived earlier, although these remain the first and only certain testimonies.
Certainly before the birth of Christ. But proposing definite and absolute data is not possible.
At the beginning of its history, the alembic certainly did not distill grape marc, nor was it used to produce spirits for the pleasure of the palate. This instrument was at the basis of medical preparations of essences and fragrant balms, as well as alchemy. Through the first rudimentary alembics, what was mostly distilled was man's hope of changing one substance into another. But even if, in the past, it was not possible to transform dark and gray metals into gleaming gold, certainly the technique of distillation, driven by this anxious search, underwent its own evolution over time.
We know that a rudimentary alembic dating back to around the 2nd century BC was found in Mesopotamia. Others have been found in Shaikhan Deri in present-day Pakistan, dating back to the 2nd century BC.
An ancient written testimony refers to a certain Cleopatra, an Egyptian alchemist of the 3rd century BC. In her work on the art of transforming metals into gold, titled Chrysopoeia, she describes an alembic called Chrysopoea, used for the production of fragrant essences and perfumes, which was already used centuries earlier by Synesius of Cyrene (413-370 BC). In fact, in his letters, Synesius talks about the preparation of distilled water, which he improved with successive redistillations.
There is nothing to prevent us from thinking that other alembics had been conceived earlier, although these remain the first and only certain testimonies.
Ancient Age (3500 BC - 476 AD)
The word "alembic" derives from the Greek "ambix" and means vessel, cup. The Arabic language took it over over the centuries and transformed it into "al – imbiq," definitively giving it the meaning of vessel for distillation.
The history of the alembic begins with an ancient civilization, advanced and highly organized: the Mesopotamian civilization. At Tepe Gawra, in the upper Tigris valley and 20 km east of Mosul (modern-day Iraq), fragments of a rudimentary alembic dating back to around the 2nd century BC were found, while another was found in an area corresponding to present-day Pakistan, also dating back to the 2nd century BC.
The first constructed alembic was of very simple design: a distilling vessel, called "cucurbit" (which in Latin means gourd), was placed above the fire, surmounted by a dome called the capital, or also helmet. To this was connected a spout whose purpose was to condense the vapors developed by the heat.
The Mesopotamian civilization knew distillation, but the design of the first historically known alembic, known as Cleopatra's Chrysopoea, is reported in a manuscript kept at the Marciana Library in Venice. It takes its name from Cleopatra, an Egyptian philosopher and alchemist who described it in the 3rd century BC. It was probably used to produce balms and essences.
Another ancient distillation instrument was the alembic known as the Pelican, due to its striking resemblance to the bird of the same name. Quite simply, it was composed of three elements: a terracotta or other material vessel, surmounted by a capital with a long spout, and finally, a vessel for collecting the distillate into which the spout ended. This essential instrument was used until the 16th century due to its practicality, although it offered very poor yields. It was mostly used to extract essences rather than to produce spirits for drinking.
The history of the alembic begins with an ancient civilization, advanced and highly organized: the Mesopotamian civilization. At Tepe Gawra, in the upper Tigris valley and 20 km east of Mosul (modern-day Iraq), fragments of a rudimentary alembic dating back to around the 2nd century BC were found, while another was found in an area corresponding to present-day Pakistan, also dating back to the 2nd century BC.
The first constructed alembic was of very simple design: a distilling vessel, called "cucurbit" (which in Latin means gourd), was placed above the fire, surmounted by a dome called the capital, or also helmet. To this was connected a spout whose purpose was to condense the vapors developed by the heat.
The Mesopotamian civilization knew distillation, but the design of the first historically known alembic, known as Cleopatra's Chrysopoea, is reported in a manuscript kept at the Marciana Library in Venice. It takes its name from Cleopatra, an Egyptian philosopher and alchemist who described it in the 3rd century BC. It was probably used to produce balms and essences.
Another ancient distillation instrument was the alembic known as the Pelican, due to its striking resemblance to the bird of the same name. Quite simply, it was composed of three elements: a terracotta or other material vessel, surmounted by a capital with a long spout, and finally, a vessel for collecting the distillate into which the spout ended. This essential instrument was used until the 16th century due to its practicality, although it offered very poor yields. It was mostly used to extract essences rather than to produce spirits for drinking.
