The idea that matter is composed of four fundamental elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water—dates back to the Greek philosopher Empedocles. This idea was enormously influential. It was adapted to medicine by Hippocrates, who developed the theory of the four humours and the four temperaments. It also influenced the proto-science of alchemy. The eighth-century Islamic scholar known in Europe as Geber or Jabir believed that all metals are composed of mixtures of sulphur and mercury. Geber speculated that idealized philosophic sulphur and philosophic mercury were thought to be the chemical forms of two of the elements: Fire and Water.

The four fundamental elements of matter were first proposed by Empedocles, and have been influential in medicine, alchemy, and cosmology.

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Earth, Air, Fire, and Water

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