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{{Mergewith|Caput mortem}}
'''''Caput Mortuum''''' is a Latin term meaning 'death's head'. In [[alchemy]], it signified a useless substance left over from a chemical operation such as sublimation. Alchemists represented this residue with a stylized human skull, a literal death's head. In its current limited usage, the ''caput mortuum'' represents decline and [[entropy]].
'''''Caput Mortuum''''' is a Latin term meaning 'death's head'. In [[alchemy]], it signified a useless substance left over from a chemical operation such as sublimation. Alchemists represented this residue with a stylized human skull, a literal death's head. In its current limited usage, the ''caput mortuum'' represents decline and [[entropy]].


Caput mortuum is the name given to a purple variety of iron oxide pigment, an "earth color". It is used in [[oil painting|oil paints]] and paper dyes. The name for this pigment may have come from the alchemical usage, since iron oxide (rust) is the useless residue of oxidization.
Caput mortuum is the name given to a purple variety of iron oxide pigment, an "earth color". It is used in [[oil painting|oil paints]] and paper dyes. The name for this pigment may have come from the alchemical usage, since iron oxide (rust) is the useless residue of oxidization.


Other spellings include [[Caput Mortum]] and [[Caput Mortem]].
Other spellings include '''Caput Mortum''' and '''[[Caput mortem]]'''.





Revision as of 18:30, 6 June 2006

Caput Mortuum is a Latin term meaning 'death's head'. In alchemy, it signified a useless substance left over from a chemical operation such as sublimation. Alchemists represented this residue with a stylized human skull, a literal death's head. In its current limited usage, the caput mortuum represents decline and entropy.

Caput mortuum is the name given to a purple variety of iron oxide pigment, an "earth color". It is used in oil paints and paper dyes. The name for this pigment may have come from the alchemical usage, since iron oxide (rust) is the useless residue of oxidization.

Other spellings include Caput Mortum and Caput mortem.