Mary the Prophetess (est400BC - 300AD)

She is estimated to have lived anywhere bwtween 400B.C.-300 A.D. And is said to be the first non fictitious alchemist in the Western world. She is known as the names Maria the Jewess or Maria Prophetissima or Mary Prophetissa or Miriam the Prophetess. There is no tangible evidence of the exact time and place of her existence. One theory is that she is possibly Miriam, the sister of Moses and the prophet Aaron.

She is mentioned in a few sources including the 4^th century alchemy by Zosimos of Panopolis, she is also mentioned by George Syncellus in the eighth century as 'Mary the Prophetess', the Arabs knew her as the 'Daughter of Plato'. In the Alexander book by Nizami, Maria a Syrian princess visits Alexander the Great in Greece and learns from Aristotle (384-322B.C.) including how to make gold.

Although none of her original writings have survived the test of time, she is said to have invented some aparatus that alchemists use as well as having various precepts attributed to her.

Old Document Review on 'The Expositions on the Apocalypse'

This old document was composed around 1235 A.D. by Hugh of Saint Cher (d.1263) under the title of Aser pinguis. Hugh was a dominican preacher and also a theology professor. In this document, he gives comments about the meanings behind the Apocalypse ( otherwise called Revelations).

His views are somewhat similar to that of Apringus, in that the Seven Seals mentioned in the book refer to prophecies sealed in time that were broken by the coming of Christ, in fact he goes as far as to say the 'the book is Christ'.

Hugh goes on to describe the various references from the Old Testament which are the seals, the incarnation, nativity, passion, resurrection, ascension, the sending of the Holy Spirit and lastly the coming judgement. These are all referenced to the seven miracles of Jesus. Note the slight differences to beliefs of Apringus from hundreds of years previous, this may be due to passage of time that ideas may change, but this document gives insight to what was believed within church circles in the 13Th century.

Most profound was a reference which claimed that Mary was not just the mother of Jesus, but in fact she was a prophetess!! This is formulated based upon one of the prophecies that formed one of the seals and quoted from Isaiah.