Following the work of André-Jean Festugière, modern scholars see alchemical practice in the Roman Empire as originating from the Egyptian goldsmith's art, Greek philosophy and different religious traditions.
fˈɑːloʊɪŋ ðə wˈɜːk ʌv ændɹˈeɪdʒˈiːn fˌɛstuːdʒiˈɛɹ, mˈɑːdɚn skˈɑːlɚz sˈiː ælkˈɛmɪkəl pɹˈæktɪs ɪnðə ɹˈoʊmən ˈɛmpaɪɚɹ æz ɚɹˈɪdʒᵻnˌeɪɾɪŋ fɹʌmðɪ ɪdʒˈɪpʃən ɡˈoʊldsmɪθz ˈɑːɹt, ɡɹˈiːk fɪlˈɑːsəfi ænd dˈɪfɹənt ɹᵻlˈɪdʒəs tɹɐdˈɪʃənz.