In 3100BC, in Heliopolis, Egyptian scholars derived a creation myth, based on the movements of the stars, the sun, and the annual Nile River flood, according to which water was first, symbolized by the god Nun, out of which land or the god Atum arose, out of which the sun or the sun god Ra burst forth and flew into the sky carried by the benu bird (aka phoenix). In 600BC, Thales traveled to Egypt and from them acquired the water as first principle theory, from which fire and earth were derived. In 500BC, Heraclitus expanded on Thales water model into the form of the three element theory, namely that things are comprised of water, earth, and fire. This eventually became the four element theory, namely that all things are comprised of water, earth, fire, and air, a theory which held sway up until the time of Percy Shelley.

Ab. This word, in many languages, denotes "father" (as in Akkadian, Turkish, Hebrew, etc.) like the Latin avus. With Akkadians also ab was "moving water " (compare A) like the Turkish ab "wave," and the Aryan ap "water." The Babylonian month Ab was called in Akkadian Nene-gar ("fire making"), sacred to "the queen of the spear" (see Quirinus). This was August, but the Akkadian January was called Abba-uddu ("rising flood "). Ab "father," and Ma "mother," are reversed in many dialects; and Ab becomes the Aryan Pa and Pa-pa, while Ma becomes Am, and Urn, and Ma-ma, "the great nurse." Ab, as the father, is the type of "fertility" and of "fruit" (Hebrew Eb: see Job viii, 1 2; Dan iv, 12, etc); but the root abah signifies "desire."