Alchemy Egyptian origins

If we conflate these various etymologies, we are left with a word that denotes a likely Egyptian origin, something that involved laboratory procedures, something possibly of divine origin or at least with divinely inspired wisdom, and something that was secret, that was seen to be so precious as to warrant a virtual conspiracy of silence. These associations have remained with alchemy ever since. 

Wilson, William Jerome. The origin and development of Greco-Egyptian alchemy. Ciba Symposia 3, no. 5 (Aug 1941) 925-960. 

These traditions are chiefly of interest as illustrating how the origin of alchemy is associated by tradition with Egyptian, Persian and Hebrew names, corroborating the evidence that the cult originated at the time when the traditions of these nations were blended with the Greek in the Alexandrian Neoplatonic schools. 

When we are dealing with Alchemy, we are not dealing with the processes of the great Outer-World, but instead, we are dealing with the very secretive microcosmic processes, which form, since time immemorial, the central subject of the mysteries. Therefore, it can be said, and rightfully so, that the hermetic sciences are the oldest sciences mankind has. It is probable that this science originated from a tradition, to which even the ancient Egyptians were in awe of and they depicted them as "Secrets of primeval Times."... 

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