&life;'> ]> Opus Magnum Alchemical Symbols

Opus Magnum Alchemical Symbols

Originally posted on the Motte on 2026-03-20

Elements

Opus Magnum symbolMeaningNotes
EnglishLatin
&salt;SaltSal
&earth;EarthHumus, solum, tellus, terra
&water;WaterAqua
&fire;FireFlamma, ignis
&air;AirAer
&death;DeathMors1
&life;LifeVita2, 3
ðer;Quintessence, etherQuinta essentia, aether4

Notes

1

Opus Magnum uses a rotated life symbol, which Unicode does not have, but which CSS can imitate. Unicode does have the similar symbol &ironcrocus;—listed as “crocus of iron”, which apparently is calcined/anhydrous rust or ferrous sulfate.

2

Unicode lists this symbol as signifying sulfur, not life.

3

For some reason, Opus Magnum uses the plural form “vitae” for the name.

4

Opus Magnum uses a masking empty triangle superimposed on another empty triangle, which looks a lot like a star of David (a non-masking empty triangle superimposed on another empty triangle). Unicode lists a different symbol for quintessence, ðerunicode;.

Metals

Opus Magnum symbolMeaningModern symbol
EnglishLatin
&Hg;Quicksilver, mercuryHydrargyrumHg
&Pb;LeadPlumbumPb
&Sn;TinStannumSn
&Fe;IronFerrumFe
&Cu;CopperCuprumCu
&Ag;SilverArgentumAg
&Au;GoldAurumAu