Emblem XIII — Dropsical ore washed in Jordan ALBEDO
Original Source
What You See
A male figure, possibly identified as Naaman the Syrian, stands immersed in a river — the Jordan — up to his waist or chest. His skin appears spotted or discolored, indicating the leprosy or 'dropsy' of the motto. Attendants or witnesses stand on the riverbank observing the ritual washing. The landscape includes trees and possibly a distant city, situating the scene in a biblical geography.
The ore of the philosophers is dropsical and wants to be washed seven times in the river, just as Naaman the leper washed in the Jordan.
Epigram
The ore of the philosophers is dropsical And wants to be washed seven times in the river, Just as Naaman the leper washed in the Jordan. Then the leprosy departs, and the body becomes clean, As white as snow, more precious than gold, If you understand what the wise men mean.Discourse Summary
Maier draws on the biblical story of Naaman the leper, healed by washing seven times in the Jordan, as an allegory for the purification of the philosophical ore. He argues that the 'dropsical' stone — swollen with impurities — must undergo repeated washing to be cleansed, just as Naaman's leprosy was cured only through sevenfold immersion. The discourse connects this to the albedo purification and to the sacramental symbolism of baptism as a prefiguration of alchemical cleansing. Maier cites the Clangor Buccinae as the source of the dropsical ore metaphor, linking it explicitly to the Latona-whitening sequence of the preceding emblems.
Overview
Emblem XIII bears the motto: "The ore of the philosophers is dropsical and wants to be washed seven times in the river, just as Naaman the leper washed in the Jordan."
Maier's Discourse
Maier draws on the biblical story of Naaman the leper, healed by washing seven times in the Jordan, as an allegory for the purification of the philosophical ore. He argues that the 'dropsical' stone — swollen with impurities — must undergo repeated washing to be cleansed, just as Naaman's leprosy was cured only through sevenfold immersion. The discourse connects this to the albedo purification and to the sacramental symbolism of baptism as a prefiguration of alchemical cleansing.
Alchemical Significance
Walter Pagel: Dropsy cure with purifying water. Jordan healing Naaman as alchemical purification parallel.
Walter Pagel: Pagel explains the 'dropsy of the ore' cured by purifying water comparable to the waters of Jordan which cured Naaman's leprosy, a comparison Maier took from medieval alchemical sources (Clangor buccinae and Aurora consurgens).
J.B. Craven: Craven summarizes Emblem 13: the brass of the wise desires to be bathed seven times in the river, like leprous Naaman in Jordan.
H.M.E. de Jong: Source: Clzmgor BMcc:Ta:ae, in: Art. Am*rjf., I,537: “Aesnostrum corpushabet hydropicum, ut Naéiman Syrus leprosum, propter quodquaeritlavacrum rege- nerationisseptiesin Jordane, utab innatispassionibuset corruptionibusemundetur. Tunehabes sulphurlet arsenicumnonurens, quopossunt utialchimisti etcum eofaciuntargentum perfectum. Gratianus dicit: Dealbate ergo Latonem.. .”.(etc.
Scholarly Commentary
Walter Pagel HIGH
Dropsy cure with purifying water. Jordan healing Naaman as alchemical purification parallel.
Citation: Review discussion
Walter Pagel ALCHEMICAL MEDIUM
Pagel explains the 'dropsy of the ore' cured by purifying water comparable to the waters of Jordan which cured Naaman's leprosy, a comparison Maier took from medieval alchemical sources (Clangor buccinae and Aurora consurgens).
Citation: p. 101
J.B. Craven ALCHEMICAL MEDIUM
Craven summarizes Emblem 13: the brass of the wise desires to be bathed seven times in the river, like leprous Naaman in Jordan.
Citation: p. 90
H.M.E. de Jong ALCHEMICAL HIGH
Source: Clzmgor BMcc:Ta:ae, in: Art. Am*rjf., I,537: “Aesnostrum corpushabet hydropicum, ut Naéiman Syrus leprosum, propter quodquaeritlavacrum rege- nerationisseptiesin Jordane, utab innatispassionibuset corruptionibusemundetur. Tunehabes sulphurlet arsenicumnonurens, quopossunt utialchimisti etcum eofaciuntargentum perfectum. Gratianus dicit: Dealbate ergo Latonem.. .”.(etc., see sourceof themotto of | Asappears from thesources from which the motto istaken, thepurification of Naaman refersto thepurifying of metals, which arecalled lepersinimpure form; furt her to the curingofincurable diseases, just as Naaman was curedof leprosyby the salutarywaterof the Jordan; andfurt her to the purificationof sins, for Naaman’s healingin the Jordanwasconsidered asbeing theprefiguration of christening....