Texts>Ancient Pagan Symbols

I.-THE ELEMENTS

REVERENCE for the four elements-fire, water, air, earth-and the belief that they were a manifestation of divine power played a large part in many of the ancient religions. The soul also was thought to be composed of the four elements, which when united, took the form of fire or flame. The Egyptians defined spirit as a "subtle fire," as did the Hindus, who believed the elements to be eternal, hence the doctrine that nothing will be annihilated but only changedsouls by transmigration, matter by transmutation.

The Chinese Taoists, differing from the Greek and Indian Philosophers, resolved the elements into five:- water, fire, wood, metal, earth, and believed that these conquered one another according to a definite law. Thus wood conquered earth; earth, water; water, fire; fire, metal; and metal, wood.

Later the Chinese Buddhists adopted the Greek and Indian idea, adding ether, however, thereby keeping the number to five.

Next>

<Return to Start

Return to Texts Index