Abstract

Leonhard Thurneysser zum Thurn (1531–1596) was not only the personal physician of the elector of Brandenburg, but also a notorious alchemist, astrologist, pharmacist, and entrepreneur. As printer of his own works, he published a remarkable number of volumes on various subjects. Praised as a “miracle man” by some of his contemporaries, he was repeatedly accused of being a sorcerer, conjurer, and charlatan. This article focuses on his herbal book, printed in 1578. Taking into account the state of contemporary knowledge, this paper examines Thurneysser’s explanations of plant names, his interpretation of plant signatures and his magical approach to pharmacology. Scientifically, Thurneysser’s innovations in these fields have not stood the test of time. However, examined within the context of intellectual history, they can be interpreted as strategies for laying claim to a field of expertise, by a man whose reputation was at risk.