The Elixir

Georg Ebers was a 19th century German Egyptologist and novelist. The Ebers papyrus is among the most important ancient Egyptian medical papyri. It is one of two of the oldest preserved medical documents. Ebers hoped that through his historical romances he could popularize Egyptian lore. This story begins, ôOf old, the aforementioned house was known as "The Three Kings," but in no otherwise was it distinguished from its neighbours in the street save through the sign of the Court apothecary on the ground floor; this hung over the arched doorway, and gay with bright colour and gilding represented the three patron Saints of the craft: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. This house in the Katherinenstrasse continued to be called "The Three Kings," although, soon after the death of old Caspar Ueberhell, the sign was removed, and the shop closed. And many things happened to it and the house which ran counter to the usual course of events and the wishes of the worthy burghers.ö