List of alchemists

Depiction of Mary the Jewess, considered the first non-fictitious Western alchemist. From Michael Maier's Symbola Aurea Mensae Duodecim Nationum (1617)

An alchemist is a person versed in the art of alchemy. Western alchemy flourished in Greco-Roman Egypt, the Islamic world during the Middle Ages, and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Indian alchemists 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.

A large number of 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 alchemists

• Hermes Trismegistus
• Ostanes, the Persian
• Nicolas Flamel

Alchemists in Greco-Roman Egypt

Indian alchemists

• Kanada, sage and philosopher (6th century BC)
• Nagarjuna, the 10th century South Indian king
• Yogi Vemana
• Siddhar Tamil sage and philosophers
• Nayanmars Tamil sage and philosophers
• Alvars Tamil sage and philosophers
• Vallalar, Tamil 18th Century sage and philosopher
• Arunagirinathar Tamil 15th Century sage and philosopher
• Karunakara swamigal Tamil 19th Century

Chinese alchemists

• Wei Boyang
• Zhang Guo the Elder (c. 600)

Islamic alchemists

• Khalid ibn Yazid, "Calid" (d. 704)
• Jābir ibn Hayyān, "Geber" (c. 721 – 815)
• Dhul-Nun al-Misri (b. 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)

European alchemists

Revival and modern alchemists

• Frater Albertus (Dr. Albert Reidel) (1911–1984)
• Eugène Canseliet (1899–1982)
• Serge Hutin (1927–1997)
• Max Magnus Norman (1973 – )
• Terrence McKenna (1946–2000)
• Diane Di Prima (1932 – )
• Rudolf von Sebottendorf (1875-1945)
• Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925)
• Apiano León de Valiente (1933 - )

Scholars of alchemy

Fictional alchemists

See also

• List of astrologers
• List of occultists