puerta de Roma

 

The Alchemical Door also known as the Alchemy Gate or Magic Portal (Italian: Porta Alchemica or Porta Magica), is a monument built between 1678 and 1680 by Massimiliano Palombara, marquis of Pietraforte, in his residence, the villa Palombara, which was located on the Esquiline hill, near Piazza Vittorio, in Rome.

This is the only one of five former gates of the villa that remains; there was a lost door on the opposite side dating them to 1680 and four other lost inscriptions on the walls of the mansion inside the villa.

The standing figures on both sides of the door feature deformed creatures, with short, stout legs and a grotesque bearded face represent a real Egyptian divinity or semi-divinity, called Bes.

A patron of the home, childbirth and infants in ancient Egypt, Bes was also known in imperial Rome, where in pre-Christian age several people followed Egyptian cults.

Originally the two statues did not belong to Villa Palombara.

They were found somewhere near the Quirinal Hill, where in ancient times stood a large temple dedicated to the Egyptian gods Isis and Serapis; century after century, many of its rich decorations, reliefs, small obelisks, etc. were unearthed, and were relocated in different parts of the city.

During the works for the opening of piazza Vittorio, in 1888 also these statues were moved from their original location to the Porta Alchemica.

The seven signs are taken from Johannes de Monte-Snyder, Commentatio de Pharmaco Catholico published in the "Chymica Vannus" (Amsterdam) in 1666, and follow the sequence of planets, associated to the correspondents metals: Saturn-lead, Jupiter-tin, Mars-iron, Venus-bronze, Mercury, Antinomy and Vitriol.

Around the circle at top: “The center is in the triangle of the center.” Also: “There are three marvels: God and man, mother and virgin, triune and one.”

The monument has numerous symbols and inscriptions used in alchemy.

The inscriptions are hard to read from the monument itself.

Around the circle at top: “The center is in the triangle of the center.

Also: “There are three marvels: God and man, mother and virgin, triune and one.”

There are six sigils on the jambs, each with its phrase!

The Hebrew inscription, Ruach Elohim, means “Spirit of God.”

Beneath it: “The Hesperius dragon guards the entrance of the magic garden, and, without Alcides, Jason would not have tasted the delights of Colchis.”

Saturn/Lead: “When in your house black crows give birth to white doves, then you will be called wise.”

Jupiter/Tin: “The diameter of the sphere, the tau of the circle, the cross of the globe do not benefit the blind.”

Mars/Iron: “He who can burn with water and wash with fire, makes heaven from earth and precious earth from heaven.”

Venus/Bronze: “If you will make the earth fly upon your head, you will convert the waters of torrents to stone by its feathers.”

Mercury: “Azoth and Fire: by whitening Latona, Diana will come without dress.”

Antimony: “Our son lives dead; the king returns from the fire and enjoys the occult conjunction.”

On the base, Vitriol: “It is occult work of true wise to open the earth, so as he may germinate health/safety for people.”

In another plate, now lost, was the device VILLAE IANUAM TRANANDO RECLUDENS IASON OBTINET LOCUPLES VELLUS MEDEAE 1680 (Passing by opening the door of the villa, Iason obtained the rich fleece of Medea 1680).

And on the doorstep, “SI SEDES NON IS,” a palindrome, meaning both “If you sit, you do not go,” and “If you do not sit, you go.”

Traducción y texto: Gobin