According to Aristotle, each element had a sphere to which it belonged and to which it would return if left undisturbed.
ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tʊ ˈæɹɪstˌɑːɾəl, ˈiːtʃ ˈɛlɪmənt hæd ɐ sfˈɪɹ tʊ wˌɪtʃ ɪt bᵻlˈɔŋd ænd tə wˌɪtʃ ɪt wʊd ɹᵻtˈɜːn ɪf lˈɛft ʌndɪstˈɜːbd.