ââ¬ÅAnd they allowed Apollonius to ask questions; and he asked them of what they thought the cosmos was composed; but they replied; ââ¬ÅOf elements.ââ¬Â ââ¬ÅAre there then four?ââ¬Â he asked. ââ¬ÅNot four,ââ¬Â said Larchas, ââ¬Åbut five.ââ¬Â ââ¬ÅAnd how can there be a fifth,ââ¬Â said Apollonius, ââ¬Åalongside of water and air and earth and fire?ââ¬Â ââ¬ÅThere is the ether,ââ¬Â replied the other, ââ¬Åwhich we must regard as the stuff of which gods are made; for just as all mortal creatures inhale the wire, so do immortal and divine natures inhale the ether.ââ¬Â ââ¬ÅAm I,ââ¬Â said Appollonius, ââ¬Åto regard the universe as a living creature?ââ¬Â ââ¬ÅYes,ââ¬Â said the other. ââ¬â The Life of Apollonius of Tyana, Philostratus, 220AD
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