38 The four elements Be yea oor sees | Si yoda cance Terenas etd many a fag pos Reger eee arnaren aivuneea try authy ques ttonesd cree ste Ae iat sad ey ant napoli ciao ee ested Mewes al cy rag anc Schinie bu cone oaetwaccee beaaly © Thefour » elements We reveal the intricate and multifaceted nature of a concept key to the philosophy is and practice of alchemy of tings ater than the thing self In addon, the Kea was not always meant to be taken itera. The concep often had a song philosophical. allegorical or psycholgial component rnd was employed as such throughout the history of alchemy. However alehemats would also develop more literal and rnystcal interpretations ofthe concep. ‘The influential Islamic alchemist Jab ibn Hayyan, speculated that each metal displayed two of Arise ‘qualities externally and two intemal lead was externally cold and dry and god hoe and mois, for example. Therefore, {stasis possible to tur water ito ait by adding hea, substituting the qual of coldness for hotness, Jabs theorised it woukl be possible to change one meal nto another by rearranging ts elemental properties This necessary influenced. Inbir's interest in labortoial experimentation a a ‘means t ind ways of manipulsting elemental pecperties, and, by extension, the alchemical tradition to fol whic is ‘ough and practice had a huge impact. ‘This dea of the four element as foundational reducible components from which the universe was made remained rominent in European Meeieval alchemy, However, during "his period the four elements alsa tok on strong epi conrwations inthe th century, alchemists commonly believed that once they had discovered a way of manipulating metals they ould apply those processes to purifying the Fpuman soul and reuniting it with God