Magnum opus (alchemy)

Magnum Opus is a Latin phrase meaning “great work.” It was used in the Middle Ages to describe alchemists’ attempts to turn lead into gold. Alchemists believed that, by mixing certain herbs and liquids in the right order and using specific heat, they could turn base metals, like lead, into gold. This process was known as the Magnum Opus and was believed to be the ultimate goal of alchemy.