Zoroaster and the Theory of Four Elements
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Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 25, Number 2 (2000) 109 ZOROASTER AND THE THEORY OF FOUR ELEMENTS th bh, v Unvrt Intrdtn trl, nd n thr tp. vr, h dvtd nl t p t th rlr rn phlphr h npt f fr lnt: r, tr, rth, nd fr, rtr nd h rln. t rprnl, prhp, th thht t hv t rn th th Gr phlphr d f fr "rd" lnt bnt. Epdl bt 440 .C., hld fr n nt A tpl rnt r. Arttl (8422 .C. prntd fll (. ddd t th npt tht th Ardn t Arttl, th prprt f btn r IE b f th trl rld th rlt f th ltn prn f rtn fndn pr ttr, hh hd nl ptntl xt tl prprt. h Arttln t r n ntl prd b dtrn thrfr n "fr." fr h dd nt rnd nt th ht drn n hp nl, bt ll ht ll lnt bt AI EA tht nfrrd pn bd th n btrt nptn f t pf prprt. In rtn ntrr prprt r Cld t plt nfttn, "lt," pll ld Mt fr v r t th "fr n, htn, drn, nd lnt," r, tr, rth, tn, hh b nd fr hh r dtn ntd n fr bntn: WAE hd fr n nthr drn nd ht (fr, ht b thr "lt." In nd tr (r, tr Figure 1. h fr lnt rprntd n lt h lnt, n lt nd ld (tr, nd ld nd ll htr nd htr f htr b. prdnt vr th drn (rth (. thr: n rth, drn n Arttl nd h fllr blvd tht ll btn tr, ld n r, fldt, nd n fr, ht. n f th r pd f th fr lntl tt f ttr fr lnt nhnbl. h p nt n nd th ll td n htr f htr b nthr thrh th d f tht lt hh th (,2. Indd thr n htr f htr b p n n. h fr n b r thrh prbl n dpth nd brth t tht f rtntn (, th d f ht r n b tr thrh th h dvtd 0 p t th rl htr, fll d d f fldt, nd n. Anthr xpl ftn ntd b thnd f rfrn. rt bt th td t h tht ttr pd f th fr l Gr phlphr, bt dn, nt, , nt th flln. If tr n ntnr b 110 Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 25, Number 2 (2000) jected to fire, it becomes air (vapor) and earth (the dis- fire to be the primary physical substance, from which solved residue remaining). other substances sprung, and into which they merged (5): This legacy of Greek science held sway during the All things are an exchange for Fire, and Fire for all Medieval Renaissance and Early Modern eras in west- things, even as waves for gold and gold for waves. ern Europe; but beginning in the seventeenth century, a The very existence of Fire depends on this strife and number of natural philosophers began to challenge the tension. Aristotelian view of matter. Johann Baptista van Further, he mentions that Heraclitus regarded justice as Helmont (1580-1644) argued that all substances, except the balance or equilibrium that prevailed between con- air, were ultimately derived from water. To demonstrate tending forces. It characterized the "ever living Fire, this he made his quantitative experiment with a small with measures of its kindling, and measures going out." willow tree, an experiment that took five years, and he Justice, therefore, was maintained by identity in differ- concluded that the tree had grown entirely from the water ence and unity in diversity, and in that respect was that he had supplied to it during this long period. His symbolised by Fire. Thus Fire became the crucible, or theory had one great patron, Isaac Newton (1642-1727) rather the principle of constant change, in which oppo- who accepted it and referred to it in the Principia (Lon- sites meet and from which they emerge. don, 1687). Helmont's most significant work was, how- ever, his recognition of the material nature of what he called gas, a generic name that he used for those prod- Orn ucts of chemical reactions that had been previously re- garded as merely spirituous and immaterial. He ex- The origin of the Four Element theory, however, seems plained to chemists that the many familiar and destruc- to be Persian and not Greek. It was the Persian prophet tive explosions that shattered their glass apparatus when Zarathustra (600-583 B.C.) whose name was corrupted they experimented on reactions in sealed or closed ves- by Greek writers to Zoroaster about two centuries be- sels were due to the release of "a wild spirit" or "gas." fore Aristotle. This Zoroastrian concept of four elements In a simple way he observed differences between gas has a different perspective which makes more sense than from various sources but, as he did not isolate any gas, the Aristotalian. According to this prophet, air, water, (7-11). Humans his distinctions were not precise; and he sometimes con- earth, and fire are "sacred" elements fused one gas with another. He had, however, advanced and animals need air to breathe, water to drink, fire to the chemistry of his time by demonstrating that these cook food, and earth to grow plants for their survival. substances were material. Earth, air, and water are to be kept free from defilement. To till the field and raise cattle are parts of one's reli- In 1661 Robert Boyle (1627-1691) published The gious requirements. Rain water when it falls in abun- Sceptical Chymist, a book in which he discussed the cri- dance to irrigate the fields is a blessing from God. When teria by which one can decide whether a substance is or it is scarce, famine may result. In a country like Iran is not a chemical element. He concluded that the four (Persia) where earthquakes are frequent, their damage Aristotelian elements and three principles commonly not only causes panic and loss of lives but it can be in- accepted in his time cannot be real chemical elements terpreted as a warning message from an angry God. since they can neither compose nor be extracted from substances. The theory, however, was so influential that Fire, on the other hand, had a more complex sig- even Joseph Black (1728-1799) was still teaching his nificance. It is the symbol of divinity. It is not wor- classes that water was transmutable into earth. shipped as thought by many writers who describe a Zo- roastrian temple (Fig. 2). It is fed daily by the attendant The works of Aristotle and the other Greek phi- priests with pieces of sandalwood. The worshipers come losophers are numerous, and the books commenting on individually at any time they wish. Inside the entrance these works are extensive. Few of these commentary each follower washes the uncovered parts of his body, works, however, trace the influence of the oriental recites a prayer, and then, removing his shoes, proceeds thought in general and the Persian in particular, on the barefooted through the inner hall to the threshold of the philosophy of the Greeks. It also seems that the Theory fire chamber, where he gives the priest his offering of of Four Elements is only a minor contribution by the sandalwood and money and receives in return a handful Greeks as compared to their other philosophical con- of ashes from the sacred urn, which he rubs on his fore- cepts (4). Afnan (5, 6) for example, devotes only a few head and eyelids. Bowing toward the fire, he offers lines to fire. He mentions that Heraclitus considered Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 25, Number 2 (2000) 11] prayers and then retreats slowly backward to his shoes We cannot but marvel at the fact that fire is neces- and returns home. These four elements, therefore, have sary for almost every operation. It takes the sands of nothing to do with the chemical elements. the earth and melts them, now into glass, now into silver, or minium or one or other lead, or some sub- According to Vuibert (12), Magism was the reli- stance useful to the painter or physician. By fire gion of the various Scythic tribes which inhabited the minerals are disintegrated and copper produced: in mountain range of Armenia, Azerbijan, Kurdistan, and fire is iron born and by fire is it subdued: by fire gold Luristan. Its chief objects of worship were air, water, is purified: by fire stones are burned for the binding earth, and fire. It was to these elements, to the actual together of the walls of houses ...Fire is the immea- surable, uncontrollable element, concerning which it material things themselves, that adoration was paid. Fire, is hard to say whether it consumes more or produces as the most subtle and ethereal principle, was held in more. the highest reverence. On fire altars, erected in temples on top of lofty mountains, the sacred flame was ever trn kept burning. To a large degree, Magism supplanted the original creed of Zoroastrianism. The Magi religion According to Zoroaster there is one god Ahura Mazda was characterized by a belief in a divinely authorized or the "Wise Spirit" and one evil (Ahriman). Fire had priesthood. Its priests seem to have held their office by the "Wise Spirit." The result of this dualistic concep- hereditary succession. They claimed not only a sacred tion of the universe is a continuous warfare going on and mediatorial character, but also supernatural prophetic between the two hostile camps. All creatures, even veg- powers.