An early title and cover concept for my novel, showing Elias Dorn’s tattoo, which is an alchemical map to the Philosopher’s Stone. The larger circle is the cosmos; the triangle represents the three elements, Mercury (spirit), Sulphur (soul), and Salt (body); the square is the four elements—earth, air, fire, water; and inside is the cosmic egg in which the King (Sol) and Queen (Luna) copulate to produce the Child, or the Stone, the substance which will turn base metals into gold. The figure in the photo is obviously much younger than Dorn, who is 62, but this was only a concept image for how the tattoo appeared on his back. In Dorn’s words, “Years ago, when I traveled along Marco Polo’s path, I stayed in Kardandan, about a five-day journey from Karazan, where they breed the best horses. Many of the people poke designs on their bodies with needles, then rub a black powder of ink and finely ground crystal into the skin.”
Engraving by Johann-Theodor de Bry from Atalanta Fugiens by Michael Maier, 1617, Germany. “Make a circle out of a man and a woman, out of this a square, out of this a triangle. Make a circle and you will have the Philosopher’s Stone.”