Description
Elementals
An elemental is a mythic supernatural being that is described in occult and alchemical works from around the time of the European Renaissance, and particularly elaborated in the 16th century works of Paracelsus. According to Paracelsus and his subsequent followers, there are four categories of elementals, which are gnomes, undines, sylphs, and salamanders. These correspond to the four Empedoclean elements of antiquity: earth, water, air, and fire, respectively. Terms employed for beings associated with alchemical elements vary by source and gloss.
Gnome, being of earth
Undine, being of water
Sylph, being of air
Salamander, being of fire
Gnome
A gnome is a mythological creature and diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and widely adopted by authors including those of modern fantasy literature. Typically small humanoids who live underground, the guardians of treasures, of mines, and of precious stones. They are ingenious, friends of men, and easie to be commandded. gnome characteristics are reinterpreted to suit various storytellers and artists. The Russian composer Mussorgsky produced a movement in his work Pictures at an Exhibition, (1874) named “Gnomus” (Latin for “The Gnome”). It is written to sound as if a gnome is moving about. As a figure of 19th-century fairy tales, the term gnome became largely synonymous with other terms for “little people” by the 20th century, such as goblin, brownie, leprechaun and other instances of the household spirit type, losing its strict association with earth or the underground world. Lawn ornaments crafted as gnomes were introduced during the 19th century, growing in popularity during the 20th century as garden gnomes.
Element Earth
Symbol of stability, nourishment, security, fertility, health, and home. Earth is the most materially grounded element. It’s cool and dry nature, provides a comfortable living space for all plants and animals. The earth element can be found in fields, hills, mountains, and plains and is home to all living beings. Survival would be impossible without earth. Earth is a rich and fertile element providing energy and sustenance to all living creatures. Earth is associated with the season of winter, midnight, and the cardinal direction North. Earth is depicted through green, brown and yellow. It’s associated with the mythical gnome or dwarf. Earth is a feminine element, the great mother that nourishes and protects. The earth element is associated with planet Saturn, and the corresponding zodiac signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. It’s symbolized by an inverted triangle or a pyramid pointing downwards, towards earth.
