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Foundations of Civilization

Mary the Jewess

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Who

Mary the Jewess · Foundations of Civilization

What

Alchemist of Hellenistic Egypt credited with the water bath — the bain-marie, which still bears her name — and with early distillation apparatus

When

1st to 3rd century CE, Alexandria, Roman Egypt

Where

Egypt

Biography

Mary the Jewess is recognized among Jewish contributors to Foundations of Civilization — Alchemist of Hellenistic Egypt credited with the water bath — the bain-marie, which still bears her name — and with early distillation apparatus

How & why

Mary the Jewess, known to later writers as Maria Hebraea, worked in Alexandria and is among the first named practitioners of alchemy in the Western tradition. She is credited with the tribikos and the kerotakis, early distillation and reflux vessels, and with the balneum Mariae — the gentle water bath that every kitchen still calls the bain-marie. Her writings survive only in quotation, chiefly through Zosimos of Panopolis, who called her one of the sages.

Sources & external links

Verify and go deeper with these external references.

Source: Wikipedia — Mary the Jewess

Contributions & Sources

Alchemist of Hellenistic Egypt credited with the water bath — the bain-marie, which still bears her name — and with early distillation apparatus

c. 100 CE

Source: Wikipedia — Mary the Jewess