Page 60 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

VI. The Four Qualities and Four Elements

The history of the following ancient theory of "The Four Qualities and Four Elements", provides
the world with the evidence of the Egyptian origin of the doctrines of (a) Opposites or
Contraries, (b) Change or Transmutation and (c) the life and function of the universe is due to
either of four elements: fire, or water, or earth or air.

1. This ancient theory was expressed by a diagram formed by outer and inner squares.

2. The corners of the outer square carried the names of the elements: fire, water, earth and air.

3. The corners of the inner square, being at the mid points of the sides of the outer square, carried
the four fundamental qualities, the hot, the dry, the cold and the wet.

4. The diagram explains that fire is hot and dry; earth is dry and cold; water is cold and wet; and
air is wet and hot.

5. Accordingly water is an embodiment of cold and wet qualities, and when the cold quality is
replaced by the hot quality, the element water is changed into the element air, with the wet and
hot qualities.

6. Consequently, transmutation is definitely implied in the teaching of this symbol.

7. It is the oldest teaching of physical science and has been traced to the Egyptians, as far back as
5000 B.C.

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook