What is caput mortuum symbol?

Caput mortuum is Latin for "dead head" or "worthless residue." It is a symbol used in alchemy to represent the leftover material after the completion of the alchemical process. This residue was often seen as a sign of failure in alchemy, as it indicated that the desired transformation had not been achieved.

However, in some alchemical traditions, the caput mortuum was seen as a necessary component of the process, representing the essential material that was needed for the next stage of transformation. It was also sometimes associated with death and rebirth, representing the idea that something must die in order for something new to be born.

In modern times, the caput mortuum symbol is often used in art and literature as a metaphor for something that is seemingly useless or valueless but that may contain hidden potential or meaning.