… literally fifth essence (from Latin quinta essentia), can refer to aether, the classical element. According to medieval and ancient science, aether is the material that fills the universe above the earth where mankind lives. The word means “pure, fresh air” or “clear sky”. After Greek Mythology, it is said to be the essence where the gods lived and which they breathed, in analogy to the air that us mortals breathe.
As I had mentioned in the previous post, Aristotle added aether in the four-element-system as the fifth element, the quintessence, as the only element not subject to change. Aether had, according to Aristotle, no characteristic qualities, was incapable of change, and moved naturally in circles.
Further reading about “Aether theories” here.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aether_(classical_element)
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