Who believed that humans developed from six key elements?

The Egyptians held a unique perspective on the nature of human existence and the material world. They believed that everything, including humans, was composed of six essential elements: earth, air, fire, water, and two spiritual elements. This philosophical and spiritual framework was integral to their understanding of life, death, and the afterlife, influencing their burial practices and views on the soul. The Egyptians offered one of the earliest forms of systematic thought regarding elemental composition and human origin, which distinguished their worldview from that of other ancient civilizations.

In contrast, other cultures like the Greeks, Romans, and Mesopotamians had different philosophical and mythological constructs. For example, the Greeks focused on philosophical inquiries into existence and human nature, often contemplating the ideal forms rather than specific elemental compositions. The Romans, heavily influenced by Greek thought, primarily built upon existing philosophies without introducing elements as a foundational concept for human origin. The Mesopotamians had rich mythologies but were more concerned with divine creation narratives and the gods' role in humanity's fate, rather than the elemental composition of humans. Thus, the Egyptian belief in the six key elements sets it apart as a distinct framework of understanding human development.