Fire, wind, water, soil: European elements Wizard

Before the development of modern chemistry, the Europeans for a long time, I believe that things in the world by fire, wind, water, soil of the four elements, these elements also have their own respective wizard. Europeans, according to this concept, the combination of astrology and magic, has also become the theoretical basis of the popular Alchemy in the Middle Ages.

This article presents a four-element concept and all belongs to the wizard to make a simple introduction.

Europe's four elements concept

Sages of ancient Greece, constitute the primitive of things or substances constitute a different view. Some people think that the very essence of water, while others believe that it is gas, or fire.

Empedocles, fire, wind, water, soil is the world's most fundamental elements, because they do not destroy, can not be decomposed.

Later, the four elements of the development and establishment of Aristotle. He believes that all things are is the first original quality basic first original quality coupled with wet, dry, heat, cold four nature of two of nature, it will form the four elements. Things in the world are a mixture of different proportions of the four elements.
↓ Aristotle's four elements concept


The concept of the four elements in the classical and medieval quite popular. Not only Western astrology four elements to distinguish the 12 constellations, if everything is a result of the four elements, then, Alchemy and other artificial means to change the proportion of material elements, base metals will become a precious metal, or even extraction of the first original qualitative theory (Sage Stone) is also possible.

The ↓ Alchemy four element symbols

To the late Middle Ages, the concept of doctors and Alchemy Shipa Russell Sousse (Paracelsus,1493-1541) in his book, the elemental wizard. He believes that the world is divided into four groups of elements and the Secretary palm wizard consisting of:

Fire Elemental - Wizard Sha Lo Manda (Salamander)

Wind element - Wizard Xi Erfu (Sylph, Shylph, or Ariel Ariel)

Water Elemental - Wizard Undine (Undine, or Ondine)

Earth element - Wizard Nome (Gnome)

The following will be a briefing on the legend of the four elements of the wizard.

Fire Wizard (Salamander)

Fire wizard, 名沙罗曼达 the fire lizards, fire salamander source or salamander.

They are said to live in the burning magma in the volcanic outflow. Alchemy, with lead chain of gold used in the fire, according to legend, when the fire reaches a sufficient Redu, in which it will fire wizard.

According to legend, they have several image. In their description of the animal fable of medieval Europe, including the bird in the tubs in the shape of the the Bodhisattva embankment Seoul biological (eighth century), through the flame worm "(12 century) and the flame "(13th century).

Around the first century AD the Roman naturalist Prini (Plinius), has described the Sha Lo Manda looks like a lizard, only coming out in the rain, the temperature is very low, once the fire hit they will disappear. In addition, the stains of their milk-like saliva, the human body hair will fall off, the saliva gets on skin color fester.

The mid-12th century, was popular with a missionary King John (of Prester John), pseudo-letters. Mentioned in the letter, the country of King John, there is a worm called Sha Lo Manda, the worms only live in the fire, like a silkworm cocoons. The female officer in the country will cocoon woven into a noble cloth or clothing, when this cloth dirty out, if thrown into the fire will clean as new.

Even Leonardo da Vinci on the Sha Lo Manda description, actually is quite interesting: "It does not have any digestive organs, it does not eat any food, eat fire in the fire, it will continue to take off, a new scaly skin - this is its intrinsic value. "

The fact that Europeans do not understand the Sha Lo Manda this biological them for a long strange illusion and perception, so Paracelsus and others, as a fire spirit is not surprising.

Wind Wizard (Xi Erfu Sylph, Shylph, or Ariel Ariel)

Wind Wizard Xi Erfu a variety of shapes that appear in people's imagination. In the theory of Paracelsus, Xier Fu is a wizard of the wind, It is said that the breeze is whispering of the wizard. All the pure soul of the people will eventually become Xier Fu. Originally Xier Fu men and women, but as time went on that Xier Fu is slim young girls.

To a more recent era of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Xi Erfu gradually stereotypes long with transparent wings like a leprechaun-like behind a beautiful young girl. They are often stealth to up, that the in the air flying four play makes Jack a. Mentioned below the image of the Water Spirit is a beautiful girl, but the Wind Wizard Xier Fu more easily inconstant, of two minds. This is probably due to the wind is lighter than water, reminiscent Xier Fu comparison frivolous whims.

As a the wind Wizard, Xier Fu has a the ability to of impracticable to try to cover every possible loophole in a the wind ownership. Shakespeare "The Tempest" had to describe how amazing this power. However, this story is not is Xi Erfu, but Ariel. Their appearance with the Water Spirit, with slim beautiful body, but she can be invisible and free-flying in the air, the moment to fly very far away, and operating wind lead to enough to make the sunken British ship Kam storm. However, she can for local adjustment for the storm, the people on board without too much damage, and allow victims drifting according to her thought drifted into her designated place. In addition, because her body is too thin, dirty menial work she almost did not come. Magician seize Ariel weaknesses, even threats and she became his men.

Water Wizard (Undine

Water Spirit Undine is often portrayed as a beautiful female elves living in the waterside. In Europe, the name of "Undine" is sometimes the name of the wizard with other water interoperability (such as Eastern Europe legendary Vodianoi, and the Slavic mythology of Rusalka).

Fukai (Fouque), German writer, book, a novel published in 1811 "Lady in the Water of Unrequited Love" (Undine), Undine portrayed as a beautiful human female appearance, their personality fickle, capricious, do not know What is fear. According to French playwright the quarter Luodu (Giraudoux) the creation of another drama "Water Wizard" (Ondine), Undine will never fish it.

Undine legend itself has no soul, but soul can be obtained by means of combination with the male and gave birth to children. However, after obtaining the soul, Undine, like humans feel worried and sad, this is enough to make her unfortunately. Moreover, when married with the human male, the commitment must Xu never be destroyed, that is to become her husband not to scold her in the water's edge. If you break the commitment Undine must return to the water world, human husband Feisibuke. Undine will have a wide range of water wizard companion to help her husband is responsible for monitoring wells in the vicinity, if it is found that the other party having an affair, we will be approached together to kill him.

Fouquet's work, is married with Undine Knights of 名叫霍布兰 (Huldbrand). He had another fiancee, married Undine, his fiancee has not been immersed. Whenever he show emotions on the fiancee, the city springs wizard companions to kill him, and even endanger his fiancée. Such a thing occurred repeatedly, Huo Bulan, could not the waterside scolded Undine. Undine had to return to the water world, it has a soul after her feel grief, but even so, she still has a soul compared with no soul is more happy.

Undine appeared again and Huo Bulan and his fiancee get married one day. Her from the city spring to kill the knight, and left with tears, "I killed him and did not leave this sentence. After a spring appear, surrounded by the Knight around the tomb. Road springs to embrace the Knights of Undine.

Soil Wizard (Noam

Nome, in the legend gives the impression that short stature, wearing a red hat, wearing logging clothes, often in underground activities, as well as in groups come and go. His features are very similar with the other legends of biological, he also often mistaken as earth elves, goblins, or dwarves. The Gnome etymology for the Ge (earth) + Nomos (home) or the Gnosis (wise).

According to the description of Paracelsus, the the Nome living in the ground, the same as the fish swim in the water in the ground surf, guarding the treasures buried in the ground.

1970s, a Dutch writer Ryan ‧ Pood Wu Fourier (Rien Pourtvliet) and scientist Will ‧ Hagen ((Wil Huygen,) together with one called "Little Man" (Gnome), picture book, a detailed description of the promise Tim's life.

According to the argument of the book, Noam is about 15 cm tall dwarfs, wearing a red cocked hat. Nome most adults have, like the old man's face, but there children Noam exist, but it is very difficult to distinguish between adults and children. Four hundred years after the rapid aging, aging and ailing fairy. Promised the age of twelve will wet the bed, independent of their parents, married a hundred years or so before leaving. The adult Nome, president of the long white beard, female Nome face in the three hundred and fifty years ago are not hairy. Three hundred years of their prime period.

Nome in the ground to establish homes, and their home in the way of life and human is no big difference. In hysteria, they built baths, heaters, restaurants and wooden houses.

Firewood and food to obtain the necessities of life, Noam often went to the ground, looking for fruit and mushrooms. They will use the tool to work with their body. And they like to come out at night, also careful to eliminate their footprints, so it is hard to find them.