Salomon's House (or Solomon's House) is a fictional institution in Sir Francis Bacon's utopian work New Atlantis, published in English in 1627, after Bacon's death. In this work, Bacon portrays a vision of the future of human discovery and knowledge. Salomon's House is credited with being the standard upon which 17th century scientific academies, including the French Académie des Sciences and the English Royal Society, are based.
Historical context It is speculated that Bacon was inspired by contemporary men of science Cornelis Drebbel and Salomon de Caus, as well as author and courtier Sir Thomas Chaloner.
According to the "Note on the Texts" in the revised critical edition, the original 1627 edition published by Bacon's literary executor William Rawley has "King Solamona" and "Salomon's House", while the 1658 and 1670 editions (long after Bacon's death) have "King Salomona" and "Solomon's House." The idea inspired followers like Samuel Hartlib and Robert Boyle and led to the Royal Society of 1660.
Description of Salomon's House A Father of Salomon's House explains the founding of Salomon's House by King Solamona:"Ye shall understand (my dear friends) that amongst the excellent acts of that king, one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the erection and institution of an Order or Society, which we call "Salomon's House"; the noblest foundation (as we think) that ever was upon the earth; and the lanthorn of this kingdom. It is dedicated to the study of the Works and Creatures of God. Some think it beareth the founder's name a little corrupted, as if it should be Solamona's House. But the records write it as it is spoken. So as I take it to be denominate of the King of the Hebrews, which is famous with you, and no stranger to us."Exposition on Salomon's House is divided into four major sections: purpose, structures and equipment, roles, and ordinances and rites.
Purpose The purpose of Salomon's House, or "end of [the] foundation," is as stated: "The End of our Foundation is the knowledge of Causes, and secret motions of things; and the enlarging of the bounds of Human Empire, to the effecting of all things possible."
Structures and equipment Salomon's House in Bensalem includes the following structures and materials in order as presented in the text: +Salomon's House structureMaterialsPurposeModern equivalentCavesCoagulation Induration
Refrigeration
Conservation of bodies
Imitation of natural mines
Production of artificial metals
Curing disease
Prolongation of life via hermitageLaboratoriesBurialsCements Composts
SoilsLaboratoriesTowersInsolation Refrigeration
Conservation
Observation of meteorological phenomenon (wind, rain, snow, hail)
Observation of astrological phenomenonObservatoriesLakes (salt and fresh water)Fish FowlBurying bodiesLaboratoriesPoolsSalt water Fresh waterDesalination of salt water (salt to fresh) Salination of water (fresh to salt)LaboratoriesIslands and baysMarine atmosphereObservatoriesStreams and cataractsProduction of energy for movement Powering of engines for wind turbinesLaboratoriesWells and fountainsWater of ParadiseImitation of natural springs Production of minerals (vitriol, sulphur, steel, lead, brass, nitre, etc.)
Infusion
(Water of Paradise) – prolongation of lifeLaboratoriesHousesImitation of meteorological phenomenon Demonstration of meteorological phenomenon (snow, hail, rain, artificial rain of bodies, thunder, lightning)ObservatoriesChambers of healthGood quality airCuring of diseases Preservation of healthSanatoriumsBathsCuring of diseases Restoration of bodies
Strengthening of bodies (sinews, vital parts, juice and substance of the body)SanatoriumsOrchards and gardensGround Soil
Trees (wild and fruit)
Herbs
Berries
FlowersProduction of drinks Grafting
Inoculation
Manipulation of plant growth (out of season growth)
Manipulation of fruit (taste, smell, color, size, shape)
Creation of medicinal plants
Creation of new plantsExperimental forestsVineyardsExperimental forestsParks and enclosuresBeasts BirdsDissections Testing
Prolongation of life
Resuscitation
Poison testing
Medicine testing
Manipulation of features (size, fertility, color, shape, habits)
Creation of new animals
Cross breedingZoological reservesSerpents Worms (silk worms)
Flies (bees)
FishManipulation of features BreedingZoological reservesPoolsFishDissections Testing
Prolongation of life
Resuscitation
Poison testing
Medicine testing
Manipulation of features (size, fertility, color, shape, habits)
Creation of new animals
Cross breedingZoological reservesBrewhousesWines Juice of fruits, grains, roots
Mixtures of honey, sugar, manna
Decocted dried fruits
Tree sap
Cane pulp
Drinks with herbs, roots, spices
Drinks that serve the purpose of both food and hydration
Thin drinks
Nourishing water
Strengthening drinkProduction of drinks Aging of drinks (up to 40 years)Experimental breweriesBakehousesBreads of grains, roots, kernels Breads with meat, fish
Leavenings
Seasonings
Strengthening breadProduction of breadsExperimental kitchensKitchensTenderized meat Strengthening meatProduction of meatsExperimental kitchensDispensatoriesPlants Living creatures
Simples
Drugs
Medicine ingredients
Heating equipment
Percolating equipment
StrainersAging of medicine Fermentation of medicine
Distillation
SeparationClinicsFactoriesPapers Linen
Silks
Tissues
Feather work
Dyes
PatternsProduction of manufactured goodsFurnacesFierce and quick heat Strong and constant heat
Soft and mild heat
Blown, quiet heat
Dry, moist heat
Heat which imitates the sunCreation of various types of heatPerspective-housesGlasses SpectaclesDemonstration of lights and radiations Production of light
Manipulation of perspective
Magnification of objects
Creation of light effects (rainbows, halos, reflections, refractions)Observatories/laboratoriesPrecious stones Crystals
Glass
Metals
Fossils
Minerals
Lodestones
Rare stones (natural and artificial)Sound-housesHarmonies Instruments of music
Hearing aids
Echoes
Equipment to convey sound (trunks, pipes, lines)Demonstration of the generation of all sounds and all sounds Imitation of all sounds and lettersObservatories/laboratoriesPerfume-housesConfiture-housePractice of taste Imitation of tastes
Practice of smell
Multiplication of smells
Imitation of smells
Production of sweet-meats
Production of wines, broths, salletsObservatories/laboratoriesEngine-housesWeapons exceeding cannons and basilisks Instruments of war
Gunpowder
Fireworks
Submersible ships and boats
Swimming supporters
Clocks
Perpetual motion machinesProduction of engines and instruments of motion Creation of deadlier weaponry
Imitation of birds, flying
Imitation of motions of living creatures
Imitation of menObservatories/laboratories Humanoid RobotsMathematical-houseGeometry AstronomyHouses of deceitsJuggling False apparitions
Impostures
IllusionsObservatories/laboratories
Roles Roles of members of Salomon's House are listed in order of appearance in the text below: +Title of roleNumber of membersDutyFather of Salomon's HouseMerchants of Light12Travel to foreign countries Procure books, abstracts, patterns of experimentsDepredators3Collect experiments from booksMystery-men3Collect experiments of mechanical arts Collect experiments of liberal sciences
Collect practices not in artsPioneers/miners3Execute new experimentsCompilers3Create titles and tables based on collected dataDowry-men/benefactors3Extrapolate experimental dataLamps3Direct new experiments based on dataInoculators3Execute and report second round of experimentsInterpreters of Nature3Interpret new experimental data Create laws and axiomsNovices Apprentices
Servants
AttendantsServe titled members There are two notable imbalances in the information given. Firstly, the imbalance between the amount of equipment and the amount of manpower to operate it. Secondly, the ratio of roles collecting data to roles producing data.
Ordinances and rites The ordinances and rites followed by the members of Salomon's House are described below:
Galleries First Gallery includes the patterns and samples of notable inventions.
Second Gallery holds statues of notable inventors. Notably, the only inventor mentioned by name is Columbus, who is credited with discovering the West Indies. The other inventors are listed as the inventor of their invention. Statues in this gallery are made of various materials including but not limited to brass, marble, cedar, silver, and gold.
Hymns and services Daily hymns and services include praising God as well as requesting His aid.
Circuits and visits Members of the Salomon's house travel throughout the kingdom and perform three major actions. Firstly, they publish new inventions. Secondly, they divine natural disasters. Thirdly, they counsel the populace.
References
External links
Project Gutenberg e-text of Francis Bacon's book The New Atlantis. Royal Society