Alchemical Symbols Encyclopedia

This page catalogues 162 alchemical symbols, spanning planetary metal correspondences, classical elements, material substances, zodiac associations, and key laboratory processes central to Western alchemical tradition from the medieval to early modern periods. Alchemical symbols formed a vital writing system for natural philosophy and protochemistry, each mark carrying specific cosmological views and material transformation theories. Below, each symbol is introduced in detail with its technical parameters and cultural context.

🪐 Planetary Metal Symbols

☉ is called Gold/Sun, commonly representing the metal gold or the sun deity. Its Unicode is U+2609, LaTeX command is \astrosun, and HTML entity is ☉. In alchemy, gold served as the ultimate goal of metallic transmutation. ☽ is Silver/Moon, representing silver or the moon goddess. Its Unicode is U+263D, LaTeX command is \moon, HTML entity is ☽, and silver purification was often mystically linked to lunar forces. ♂ stands for Iron/Mars, symbolizing the metal iron or the god of war Mars. Its Unicode is U+2642, LaTeX command is \mars, HTML entity is ♂, embodying weapons and strength. ♀ denotes Copper/Venus, representing copper or the goddess Venus, with Unicode U+2640, LaTeX command \venus, and HTML entity ♀. Copper mirrors were historically associated with beauty deity worship. ♃ is Tin/Jupiter, its Unicode is U+2643, LaTeX command is \jupiter, HTML entity is ♃. ♄ symbolizes Lead/Saturn, with Unicode U+2644, LaTeX command \saturn, and HTML entity ♄. Lead was regarded as the starting point for transformation due to its base nature. ♅ represents Antimony/Uranus, Unicode U+2645, LaTeX command \uranus, HTML entity ♅. Though Uranus was discovered later, this symbol was retroactively adopted for antimony. ♆ stands for Platinum/Neptune, Unicode U+2646, LaTeX command \neptune, HTML entity ♆. ♇ is Quicksilver/Pluto, representing mercury or the underworld deity, Unicode U+2647, LaTeX command \pluto, HTML entity ♇. Mercury was viewed as a liminal substance transcending solid-liquid boundaries. Note that some planetary LaTeX commands require the wasysym or marvosym packages.

🔥 Classical Elements & Substance Symbols

🜁 is called Air, commonly representing gases or the air element. Its Unicode is U+1F701, HTML entity 🜁, and it symbolizes intellect and spirit in alchemy. 🜂 is Water, representing liquids, with Unicode U+1F702, HTML entity 🜂. 🜃 is Fire, used for combustion or the fire element, Unicode U+1F703, HTML entity 🜃, representing the crucial transformative force of the athanor furnace. 🜄 represents Earth, symbolizing solids, Unicode U+1F704, HTML entity 🜄. 🜋 is Salt, representing crystalline substances, Unicode U+1F70B, HTML entity 🜋, and forms the third principle alongside sulfur and mercury. 🜍 is Sulfur, symbolizing combustibility or the soul, Unicode U+1F70D, HTML entity 🜍. ☿ is Mercury, representing quicksilver or fluidity, Unicode U+263F, HTML entity ☿, mediating between spirit and matter. 🜔 is Vinegar, used for acidic solutions, Unicode U+1F714, HTML entity 🜔. 🜖 is Vitriol, standing for sulfuric acid, Unicode U+1F716, HTML entity 🜖. 🜘 is Alcohol, used for distilled spirits, Unicode U+1F718, HTML entity 🜘. Always check OS font support for these symbols; installing Symbola or Noto Sans Symbols is recommended for full rendering.

♈ Zodiac & Temporal Symbols

♈ is called Aries, often linked to April or head anatomy. Its Unicode is U+2648, LaTeX command is \Aries, HTML entity ♈. In alchemical medicine it indicated surgical contraindications for the head. ♉ is Taurus, Unicode U+2649, LaTeX \Taurus, HTML entity ♉. ♊ is Gemini, Unicode U+264A, LaTeX \Gemini, HTML ♊. ♋ is Cancer, Unicode U+264B, LaTeX \Cancer, HTML ♋. ♌ is Leo, Unicode U+264C, LaTeX \Leo, HTML ♌. ♍ is Virgo, Unicode U+264D, LaTeX \Virgo, HTML ♍. ♎ is Libra, Unicode U+264E, LaTeX \Libra, HTML ♎. ♏ is Scorpio, Unicode U+264F, LaTeX \Scorpio, HTML ♏. ♐ is Sagittarius, Unicode U+2650, LaTeX \Sagittarius, HTML ♐. ♑ is Capricorn, Unicode U+2651, LaTeX \Capricornus, HTML ♑. ♒ is Aquarius, Unicode U+2652, LaTeX \Aquarius, HTML ♒. ♓ is Pisces, Unicode U+2653, LaTeX \Pisces, HTML ♓. In LaTeX, zodiac symbols often require the \textastro command or dedicated star sign packages; direct Unicode input is the recommended modern approach.

🧪 Laboratory & Measurement Symbols

🝤 is called Furnace, representing heating equipment or calcination. Its Unicode is U+1F764, HTML entity 🝤. 🝪 is Crucible, used for melting metals, Unicode U+1F76A, HTML entity 🝪. 🝫 is Alembic, denoting distillation purification, Unicode U+1F76B, HTML entity 🝫. 🝬 is Balneum, a water bath vessel, Unicode U+1F76C, HTML entity 🝬. 🝲 represents Weighing, symbolizing a balance or measurement, Unicode U+1F772, HTML entity 🝲. 🝳 marks Time, Unicode U+1F773, HTML entity 🝳. 🜹 is Powder, often used for ground solid substances, Unicode U+1F739, HTML entity 🜹. These laboratory signs hold significant value for modern chemistry history research, documenting early experimental science practice authentically.

🔮 Occult & Esoteric Symbols

🜚 is the Gold Mark, an alternative graphic for gold, Unicode U+1F71A, HTML entity 🜚. 🜙 is the Silver Mark, Unicode U+1F719, HTML entity 🜙. 🝒 is called the Philosophers' Stone, representing the magnum opus culmination, Unicode U+1F752, HTML entity 🝒. It is the ultimate holy grail of alchemy. 🝓 stands for Fermentation, symbolizing decay and rebirth, Unicode U+1F753, HTML entity 🝓. 🝕 represents Crystallization, Unicode U+1F755, HTML entity 🝕. 🝆 is Alkahest, the universal solvent, Unicode U+1F746, HTML entity 🝆. 🝇 is Oil, often used for essential oil extraction, Unicode U+1F747, HTML entity 🝇. When copying SVG source or downloading PNG, rendered graphics rely on current system fonts; for obscure Unicode blocks, using Noto Sans Symbols in professional design software ensures optimal results. These symbols are not only chemical history heritage but are also widely referenced in modern literature, movies, and game design, so ensure cultural accuracy in context.

💡 Usage Tips

To copy a specific alchemical symbol's Unicode, LaTeX command, or HTML entity, simply click the corresponding symbol card above and then click the desired item in the pop-up detail panel for one-click copying. Each symbol supports generating SVG vector source code or downloading as a 512×512 pixel transparent PNG image, convenient for academic papers, art design, or game assets. For historical research or chemistry history education, we recommend using LaTeX commands with relevant packages for accurate typesetting, especially when dealing with planetary and zodiac symbols, as LaTeX ensures cross-platform visual consistency.