Sulfur
| Sulfur is a chemical element with symbol S and atomic number 16. It is a yellow, crystalline, nonmetal solid, essential to living cells and one of the most abundant elements in the universe. It is similar to oxygen. To rosicrucian alchemists like Paracelsus (influenced by Indian tradition), salt, sulfur and mercury represented the 3 principles of masculine, feminine and androgynous, explained in Opus paramirum. Sulphur meant anything combustible. The red lion is a symbol of sulfur. It is a byproduct of metallurgy, taught by the Fallen Angels. Mercury occurs red sulfide cinnabar. Copper and iron sulfates were called vitriols. In the bible it is called brimstone/burnstone (origin of jewish name Bernstein, Ellen Bursteyn) as the smell of Hell (Valley of Gehenna used for burning of children). In China it was used to fire rockets. Sulfur is found in pyrite (iron sulfide, fool's gold). |  |
The cross-leg symbol of the Emperor represents sulfur, the male principle. The red lion is depicted on The Lovers card.