Greek alchemy

thumb|right|A dragon-like ouroboros in a 1478 drawing in an alchemical tract

body of papyri from Graeco-Roman Egypt, containing magical spells, formulae, hymns, and rituals, dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE

manuscript

papyrus on alchemy

The Cyranides (; also Kyranides or Kiranides) is a compilation of ancient Greek works on magic and medicine first put together in the 4th century. Latin and Arabic translations also exist. It has been described as a "farrago" and a texte vivant, owing to the complexities of its transmission: it has been abridged, rearranged, and supplemented. The resulting compilation covers the magical properties and practical uses of gemstones, plants, and animals, and is a virtual encyclopedia of amulets; it also contains material pertinent to the history of western alchemy, and to New Testament studies, pa