An important example of alchemy's roots in Greek philosophy, originated by Empedocles and developed by Aristotle, was that all things in the universe were formed from only four elements: earth, air, water, and fire.
ɐn ɪmpˈoːɹtənt ɛɡzˈæmpəl ʌv ˈælkəmiz ɹˈuːts ɪn ɡɹˈiːk fɪlˈɑːsəfi, ɚɹˈɪdʒᵻnˌeɪɾᵻd baɪ ɛmpˈɛdɑːkəlz ænd dɪvˈɛləpt baɪ ˈæɹɪstˌɑːɾəl, wʌz ðæt ˈɔːl θˈɪŋz ɪnðə jˈuːnɪvˌɜːs wɜː fˈɔːɹmd fɹʌm ˈoʊnli fˈoːɹ ˈɛlɪmənts: ˈɜːθ, ˈɛɹ, wˈɔːɾɚ, ænd fˈaɪɚ.