The Net (substance)

The Net was a term in alchemy for a copper-antimony alloy, named for its crystalline "net" like surface separated by interstices and thought to be one step in the creation of the philosopher's stone. It was discovered by the American alchemist George Starkey aka Eirenaeus Philalethes, who believed the ancient Greek and Roman myths were really encoded recipes for substances needed in the creation of the philosopher's stone.

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It was in the particular myth of the god Vulcan (the medieval alchemical term for fire) finding his wife Venus (alchemical symbol for copper) in bed with the god Mars (whose symbol meant iron in alchemy), that inspired Starkey for the experiment which led to the discovery and creation of the substance he called "The Net". In the myth, the god Vulcan (fire) hung Venus and Mars from a high ceiling with an especially crafted metal net, being the craftsman of the gods, as punishment. The creation process included antimony regulus being reduced from antimony sulfide (stibnite) by the addition of iron whence the influence of Mars in the alloy comes. Isaac Newton, in his private notes, wrote how he himself followed the steps to the creation of "The Net" and took to Starkey's theory that the Classical mythology was indeed a collection of secret formulas in the creation of a metaphysical substance, which Newton pursued covertly for fear of being ostracized in his time.