Alchemy
Alchemy is the ancient art of transmutation, with hermetic and metallurgical roots in Hellenistic Egypt (c. 100 BC-300 AD), developed in Islamic, Indian, Chinese (Taoism) and European Christian traditions. The most famous goal: transmute base metals into gold, obtain the Philosopher's Stone and the elixir of long life. Modern reading (Jung): alchemy as metaphor for inner transformation.
Famous alchemists
Geber/Jabir ibn Hayyan (Arab, 8th century), Paracelsus (Swiss, 16th century), Nicolas Flamel (French, 14th century). Isaac Newton dedicated more time to alchemy than to physics.