A meme that I came to inhabit a few years ago, by reasoning, is that the "earth, water, wind, fire" from ancient greece science, was just greek for "solid, liquid, gas and energy". Its just the four states of matter, and should be translated as that.
γῆ (ge) is not "earth" (as in geology), its used in the same way as geometry, shape, and used for solid.
The same goes for same goes for πῦρ (pur), which besides meaning 'fire' , also means lightning, and so is used as energy.
ὕδωρ (hudor) 'water' is also used as ὕδωρ + ἄργυρος (árguros, “silver, money”), hydrargyrum or liquid silver, the element mercury (Hg), and is used as liquid.
And ἀήρ (aer), 'air', also means 'space/volume', and is used as gas.
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