published 1556
published 1607
published 1893
Khrysomallos was the flying golden-fleeced ram who rescued Phrixos and Helle. Phrixos sacrificed Khrysomallos to the gods and placed the fleece in Ares’ grove; Khyrsomallos was placed in the heavens as the constellation Aries. Faivre, in Alchemy and the Golden Fleece, shares symbolism associated with the Golden Fleece. Some think it represents Initiation. Others think it represents the Book of Alchemy. Either symbol is appropriate as the Preface to Lambspring.
Splendor Solis states that the First Grade is in the sign of Aries. In astrology, Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac. The Spring Equinox heralds the rebirth of the Sun, an appropriate metaphor for the Soul’s transformation during alchemy.
The 1556 Preface has a (silver?) lamb. The top half of the image is blue (Water); the lower half of the image is yellow (Air). Though both the blue portion and the yellow portion have a design invoking a trinity, the designs are not exactly the same.
The 1607 and the 1893 Prefaces remind me of Plate 1 of Splendor Solis. The Knight’s helm represents the Initiate. The lamb below (on Earth) is an imperfect reflection of the lamb above.