Azoth

Also known as universal solvent

upright=1.1|thumb|Fourth woodcut illustration from Basil Valentine's Azoth (1613)thumb|Sixth woodcut from the series in Basil Valentine's AzothAzoth is a universal remedy or potent solvent sought after in the realm of alchemy, akin to alkahest—a distinct alchemical substance. The quest for Azoth was the crux of numerous alchemical endeavors, symbolized by the Caduceus. Initially coined to denote an esoteric formula pursued by alchemists, akin to the Philosopher's Stone, the term Azoth later evolved into a poetic expression for the element mercury. The etymology of 'Azoth' traces to Medieval La