The life of Philip Aureol Theophrastus Bombast von Hohenheim, better known as Paracelsus (1493-1541), a celebrated physician, alchemist, naturalist and philosopher, is surrounded by countless mysteries, myths and legends. Its place in history has been hotly contested for centuries by doctors, chemists, historians and occultists. Is it true that he knew how to predict the future? How did he manage to cure patients who were considered incurable?