It has been shown that the extension of the elasticity theory in more than
three dimensions allows a description of space-time as a properly stressed
medium, even recovering the Minkowski metric in the case of uniaxial stress.
The fundamental equation for the metric in the theory is shown to be the
equilibrium equation for the medium. Examples of spherical and cylindrical
symmetries in four dimensions are considered, evidencing convergencies and
divergencies with the classical general relativity theory. Finally the possible
meaning of the dynamics of the four dimensional elastic medium is discussed.Comment: 10 pages; LATEX, uses thmsa.sty now sent to enable PS conversion; to
appear on Gravitation & Cosmolog