Aether – Global themes

The Classical Greek Elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water were one of the first ways of trying to define the building blocks and foundations of the universe. Now superseded by science, they were in use from 450 BCE in Greece and in Europe only really began to be questioned in the late 1600’s and were only comprehensively replaced around a hundred years later.

What is most striking, however, is their overlap with other cultures and belief systems around the world, even when there is no clear pathway to contact between the peoples concerned. In India, Hinduism held to five great elements, the same four adding the aether or void. Aether was also added in Europe representing the void of space as an incorruptible constant unlike anything found on earth. Elements and components of Buddhist literature and philosophy also refer to earth, air, fire and water, in some cases as elements, but also as the basis for experiencing the world or as definitions for the properties of substance. Earth, air, fire, water and aether are also prominent in cosmology and beliefs recorded in Central and West Africa.

Cùra is science based but as a recognition of human endeavour and thought through the centuries, the index of species and topics is divided between the four principles and the aether but is then listed alphabetically in modern subject groups within them. Looking up entries is straightforward but possibly browsing is just that bit more inspired.

Illustrations ©Nick Sidle, all rights reserved