An alchemist is a person versed in the art of alchemy. Western alchemy flourished in

Greco-Roman Egypt The history of Egypt has been long and wealthy, due to the flow of the Nile River with its fertile banks and delta, as well as the accomplishments of Egypt's native inhabitants and outside influence. Much of Egypt's ancient history was a myster ...

, the

Islamic world The terms Muslim world and Islamic world commonly refer to the Islamic community, which is also known as the Ummah. This consists of all those who adhere to the religious beliefs and laws of Islam or to societies in which Islam is practiced. In ...

during the Middle Ages, and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries.

Indian alchemists Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

and Chinese alchemists made contributions to Eastern varieties of the art. Alchemy is still practiced today by a few, and alchemist characters still appear in recent fictional works and video games. Many alchemists are known from the thousands of surviving alchemical manuscripts and books. Some of their names are listed below. Due to the tradition of pseudepigraphy, the true author of some alchemical writings may differ from the name most often associated with that work. Some well-known historical figures such as Albertus Magnus and Aristotle are often incorrectly named amongst the alchemists as a result.

Legendary

* Hermes Trismegistus * Ostanes, the Persian * Nicolas Flamel * Perenelle Flamel

Greco-Roman Egypt

India

* Kanada, sage and philosopher (6th century BC) * Nagarjuna * Yogi Vemana * Siddhar Tamil sage and philosophers *

Nayanmars The Nayanars (or Nayanmars; ta, நாயன்மார், translit=Nāyaṉmār, translit-std=ISO, lit=hounds of Siva, and later 'teachers of Shiva ) were a group of 63 Tamil Hindu saints living during the 6th to 8th centuries CE who were de ...

Tamil sage and philosophers *

Alvars The Alvars ( ta, ஆழ்வார், Āḻvār, translit-std=ISO, lit=The Immersed) were the Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused ''bhakti'' (devotion) to the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, in their songs of longing, ecstasy, and ...

Tamil sage and philosophers * Vallalar, Tamil 18th Century sage and philosopher *

Arunagirinathar Arunagirinaadhar (Aruna-giri-naadhar, ', ) was a Tamil Saiva saint-poet who lived during the 15th century in Tamil Nadu, India. In his treatise ''A History of Indian Literature'' (1974), Czech Indologist Kamil Zvelebil places Arunagirinathar's ...

Tamil 15th Century sage and philosopher *

Agastiyar Agastya ( kn, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ, ta, அகத்தியர், sa, अगस्त्य, te, అగస్త్యుడు, ml, അഗസ്ത്യൻ, hi, अगस्त्य) was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the I ...

Tamil Sage * Korakkar Tamil Sage * Thirumoolar Tamil Sage * Bogar Tamil Sage * Kagapujandar Tamil Sage *

Vaalmiki Valmiki (; Sanskrit: वाल्मीकि, ) is celebrated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The epic ''Ramayana'', dated variously from the 5th century BCE to first century BCE, is attributed to him, based on the attributio ...

Tamil Sage * Pattinathar Tamil Sage * Kalangi Nathar Tamil Sage *

Pathanjali Patanjali ( sa, पतञ्जलि, Patañjali), also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra, was a Hindu author, mystic and philosopher. Very little is known about him, and while no one knows exactly when he lived; from analysis of his works it i ...

Tamil Sage *

Avvaiyar Avvaiyar (Tamil: ஔவையார்) was the title of more than one female poet who were active during different periods of Tamil literature. They were some of the most famous and important female poets of the Tamil canon. Abidhana Chinta ...

Tamil Sage * Naradhar

China

* Liu Yiming * Wei Boyang * Zhang Guo the Elder (c. 600)

Arabic-Islamic world

* Khalid ibn Yazid, "Calid" (died 704) * Jābir ibn Hayyān, "Geber" (died c. 806–816) * Dhul-Nun al-Misri (born 796) * Al-Kindi, "Alkindus" (801–873), a critic of alchemy * Al-Farabi, "Alfarabi" (870–950/951) * Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi, "Rhazes" (864–930) * Muhammed ibn Umail al-Tamimi, "Senior Zadith" (c. 900–960) * Abu Ali al-Husain ibn Abdallah ibn Sina, "Avicenna" (980–1037), a critic of alchemy, Father of modern Medicine * Al-Tughrai (1061–1121) * Artephius (c. 1150)

Legendary

Greco-Roman Egypt

India

China

Arabic-Islamic world

Europe

Revival and modern

Scholars of alchemy

In fiction

See also