According to this view, early alchemists such as Zosimos of Panopolis () highlighted the spiritual nature of the alchemical quest, symbolic of a religious regeneration of the human soul.
ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə ðɪs vjˈuː, ˈɜːli ˈælkɪmˌɪsts sˈʌtʃ ɐz zəsˈɪmoʊz ʌv pænˈɑːpəliz hˈaɪlaɪɾᵻd ðə spˈɪɹɪtʃˌuːəl nˈeɪtʃɚɹ ʌvðɪ ælkˈɛmɪkəl kwˈɛst, sɪmbˈɑːlɪk əvɚ ɹᵻlˈɪdʒəs ɹiːdʒˌɛnɚɹˈeɪʃən ʌvðə hjˈuːmən sˈoʊl.