"...The word χημεια from which we derive our English word 'chemistry' first occurs it is said in the Lexicon of Suidas a Greek writer who flourished in the eleventh century. Here is his definition of it:
'Chemistry is the art of preparing gold and silver. The books concerning it were sought out and burnt by Diocletian on account of the new plots directed against him by the Egyptians. He behaved towards them with great cruelty in his search after the treatises written by the ancients his purpose being to prevent them from growing rich by a knowledge of this art lest emboldened by measureless wealth they should be induced to resist the Roman supremacy.' Some authorities assert however that this art or pretended art is of much greater antiquity than Suidas knew of; and Scaliger refers to a Greek manuscript by Zozomen of the fifth century which is entitled 'A Faithful Description of the Secret and Divine Art of Making Gold and Silver.' We may assume that as soon as mankind had begun to set an artificial value upon these metals and had acquired some knowledge of chemical elements their combinations and permutations they would entertain a desire to multiply them in measureless quantities..."