I just posted the following to a Yahoo forum. I think it would be a good idea to ask about it here, too:
--- In [log in to unmask], "AaronL" <kheph777@...>
wrote:
>
> Greetings, folks!
>
> This was something I was going to explore later - but I just read a post on
the Academic Study of Magic list that made me decide to ask about it now. :)
>
> The design of Dee's Holy Table has some alchemical symbolism attached. The
lettering is painted in "yellow" (which I understand at the time likely meant
gold), it is covered with a multi-colored silk cloth (which color the Key of
Solomon assigns to Mercury, along with metal alloys), and then there is the
purified tin of the Seven Ensigns of Creation.
>
> I've never assumed the tin should represent Jupiter. Instead, I suspect it
comes from an alternate list of alchemical metals to which Dee had access. With
this in mind, I read this on ASoM:
>
> > From: Khem Caigan <Khem@...>
> > Subject: Re: [ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC] Relationship between planets and metals
> >
> > Pingree relates a series of these, including gemstones,
> > in Volume II of his edition of the *Yavanajataka of
> > Sphujidhvaja*, on pages 253-258.
> >
> > The earliest is that given by Celsus, found in Origen's
> > *Contra Celsum* 6, 21-22:
> >
> > Saturn: lead
> > Jupiter: bronze
> > Mars: alloy
> > Sun: gold
> > Venus: tin
> > Mercury: iron
> > Moon: silver
>
> This list was preserved in "Contra Celsum" by Origen in 248 CE. Notice that
tin is attributed to Venus here - and Venus was the primary planet of the
Heptarchia during Dee's time.
>
> What I would like to know is whether or not there are alchemical lists, that
Dee is likely to have consulted, that attribute tin to Mercury. This would make
sense for the Holy Table, which is intended to facilitate skrying and
spirit-communication.
>
> LVX
> Aaron
>
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