Gold has a mysterious hold over most of humanity. We use a gold band set with gemstones to symbolize the love and commitment of engagement and marriage, as well as the ability to financially care for one another. We also use gold to denote great wealth. Gold bars are often used alongside gemstones as the goal of thieves in ‘heist’ books and films. Tales of treasure in books, films, stories, myth and even in the news, often involves great hoards of gold and gemstones. The allure of gold on the human psyche is mysterious, yet not difficult for almost all of us to understand.
One of the most interesting tales of gold involves not a gold band, treasure chests full of gold and gemstones or gold bullion, but the possibility of the creation of gold. This fascinating tale of gold and mystery is found in the life and work of a man by the name of Nicholas Flamel. To any reader of the Harry Potter books, this name will ring a bell. Nicholas Flamel is mentioned in the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (published in the US as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) as a friend of the character Albus Dumbledore.
The person known as Nicholas Flamel is reputed to have lived from around 1330 to 1417. There is a tomb with his name on it in Paris, and a house of stones that he was supposed to have built himself also in Paris, but there is no way to know for certain if he was, in fact, a real person. What we do know is that he was believed to have been a real person by many during and after his life. The reason for his great fame was that he was reputed to have been an alchemist, or a practitioner of alchemy, the art of changing base materials into more precious gems, such as turning lead into gold.
The legend of Nicholas Flamel was heightened by a thief who sought the gold and gemstones that were reputed to be found throughout Flamel’s house. Finding neither gold nor gemstones in the former home of Nicholas Flamel, the thief supposedly then went to the tomb of the late master alchemist. The thief found the tomb, with a tombstone that was covered in alchemical symbols, carved by Flamel himself, and proceeded to open it up. His goal was to plunder the tomb that he was certain would be filled with gold and gemstones. He was surprised upon opening the tomb that not only was there no gold or gemstones, but there was also no Nicholas Flamel.
Whether this tale is true or not, it does add mystery and intrigue into the tale of Nicholas Flamel. Legend has it that he and his wife created the Philosopher’s Stone, the legendary alchemical tool that could turn lead to gold and also give the user the elixir for eternal life. It became the belief by many that he and his wife faked their deaths, and continued to live on, perhaps even into the present day. While we know that the likelihood of there being any kind of stone or stones that could create gold, gemstones or any other treasure, as well as providing one with the ability to live forever, is rather slim, it is nevertheless a remarkably fascinating story that has resonated with humans for almost 700 years.
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