Empedocles is most well-known for his theory that all matter consists of four elements — he called them “roots” — and named them for the Greek gods Zeus, Hera, Aidoneus and Nestis.

“Great Empedocles, that ardent soul, leapt into Etna and was roasted whole.” ... His theory of the four elements would be eventually accepted by a great many people, ...

Part One of the book is devoted to mastery of the four elements, Part Two includes 100 of Nosrat’s “most essential and versatile recipes”: e.g. a panzanella for every season, sweet corn soup ...

The theory proposes two paired principles, sulfur and mercury. (Confusingly, these do not always correspond to the elements bearing those names.) The mercury principle is cool and moist; sulfur ...