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The theoretical roots outlining the stone ’ s creation can be traced to Greek philosophy.

Alchemists later used the Classical elements, the concept of anima mundi, and Creation stories presented in texts like Plato ’ s Timaeus as analogies for their process.

According to Plato, the four elements are derived from a common source or prima materia ( first matter ), associated with chaos.

Prima materia is also the name alchemists assign to the starting ingredient for the creation of the philosopher ’ s stone.

The importance of this philosophical first matter persisted through the history of alchemy.

In the seventeenth century, Thomas Vaughan writes, “ the first matter of the stone is the very same with the first matter of all things ”.