Serpent on the Cross Print – Abraham Eleazar, Uraltes Chymisches Werck (The Book of Abraham the Jew), mid-1700s – Hermetic Snake Illustration, Gnostic Occult Poster, Esoteric Home Decor, Mystic Alchemy Print, Magic Wall Art #216

This Serpent on the Cross Print is a reproduction of a striking alchemical engraving from Abraham Eleazar’s Uraltes Chymisches Werck (The Book of Abraham the Jew), published in the mid-18th century. The illustration presents a serpent coiled around a wooden cross, crowned with the head of a mystical beast. At its base, flowers emerge from the ground, one blooming and another withering — a visual allegory of life, death, and transformation.

Available on hand-made paper for an authentic antique texture, or on canvas for a dramatic gallery presentation. Each piece is delivered unframed, allowing you to choose the perfect frame for your interior, whether mystical, historical, or contemporary.

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A Vision of Hermetic Wisdom

The image of the serpent on the cross is deeply rooted in Hermetic, alchemical, and Gnostic traditions. It evokes the duality of existence: the serpent, often feared as a symbol of temptation, also embodies knowledge, healing, and regeneration. Entwined around the cross — an axis of suffering, sacrifice, and transcendence — the serpent becomes a universal emblem of death and resurrection, matter and spirit, fall and redemption.

Eleazar’s engraving reflects this philosophy: the serpent crowned with an animal’s head points to transformation and hybrid wisdom, while the plants below remind us of the eternal cycle of growth and decay.

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What the Artwork Depicts

• The Serpent on the Cross – a symbol of knowledge, power, and the eternal struggle between matter and spirit.

• Crown and Beast’s Head – signifying hybrid wisdom, sovereignty, and transformation.

• Flourishing and Withering Flowers – duality of life and death, growth and decay, hope and mortality.

• Alchemical Landscape – a symbolic stage for spiritual allegory.

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Symbolism and Esoteric Meaning

The serpent-on-the-cross motif has been read in many mystical ways:

• Hermetic Duality – life and death, poison and cure, destruction and regeneration.

• Alchemy of Transformation – the serpent as prima materia, crucified and transmuted into higher essence.

• Healing and Knowledge – recalling the serpent of Asclepius, a timeless emblem of medicine and wisdom.

• Gnostic Mysticism – the cross as the axis mundi, the serpent as gnosis winding upward toward liberation.

• Christian-Alchemical Fusion – blending biblical imagery with occult philosophy to illustrate redemption through knowledge.

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Historical and Cultural Context

The engraving originates from Abraham Eleazar’s Uraltes Chymisches Werck (The Book of Abraham the Jew), a seminal alchemical compilation that appeared in the mid-1700s. This text blended Hebrew mysticism, Christian Kabbalah, and European Hermeticism, preserving diagrams, rituals, and symbolic images meant for initiates of the esoteric arts.

The serpent on the cross reflects the fusion of alchemy and theology in the 18th century — where Christian motifs were reinterpreted through Hermetic lenses to convey universal truths of transformation, sacrifice, and renewal.

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Why Choose This Print?

• Faithful reproduction of the serpent-on-the-cross engraving by Abraham Eleazar.

• A unique fusion of alchemy, Gnostic philosophy, and mystical symbolism.

• Available on hand-made paper (authentic antique feel) or canvas (gallery finish).

• Delivered unframed – style it your way for study, library, or altar.

• Perfect for occultists, mystics, alchemists, and collectors of esoteric art.

• A powerful piece of occult botanical and alchemical heritage that connects history, spirituality, and art.

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Perfect For

• Practitioners of Hermeticism, Gnosticism, and alchemy.

• Collectors of rare occult prints and mystical engravings.

• Admirers of dark academia interiors, symbolic wall art, and esoteric décor.

• Philosophers, seekers, and historians fascinated by spiritual symbolism.

• Unique gifts for lovers of occult knowledge, mystical traditions, and alchemical art.

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More Than Just an Occult Illustration

This Serpent on the Cross Print from Abraham Eleazar’s Uraltes Chymisches Werck is not only an esoteric engraving but also a profound visual meditation on transformation and unity. The entwined serpent and cross remind us of the mystical balance of life and death, matter and spirit, fall and redemption. Displaying it in your home or study is an invitation to reflect on the timeless wisdom encoded in Hermetic and alchemical traditions.

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Canvas vs. Hand-Made Paper — Print Comparison Guide