THE PILL OF IMMORTALITY
In a tradition somewhat parallel to that of the Alexandrian alchemists (see my blog of August 20, 2015), the Chinese searched for a pill,...
Mercury Poisoning
One goal of alchemy has been to transmute base metals like copper into silver or gold. Alchemists judged the success of their operation...
The Winds of Alexandria
The Khamseen winds, the hot winds that streak the hard blue desert sky with grayness, choke the Eastern Mediterranean during the spring...
What’s your favorite mystery subgenre?
Although there is no single definition for the genre known as mystery fiction, most agree that the stories are about the solving of a...
THE TEMPLE OF AUGUSTUS AND ROMA CROWNS CAESAREA’S HARBOR
As her ship, the Orion, slides through the gateway and turns southeast, Miriam fastens her gaze on the Temple of Augustus and Roma:...
Miriam Arrives in Caesarea
After five days at sea, Miriam arrives in Caesarea to trace an alchemical secret that has surfaced there: My doldrums were relieved… when...
Ancient Source of Alchemical Knowledge
Believe it or not, alchemical societies are alive today and dedicated toward the study of alchemy and early chemistry. I located a...
Doing the Research
Readers of The Deadliest Lie and The Deadliest Hate often comment on their having been transported to Ancient Alexandria, that the words...
How much do you really know about gladiators?
In The Deadliest Lie, Miriam bat Isaac’s brother Binyamin leaves Alexandria to become a gladiator. In The Deadliest Hate, she watches him...