Herps in Mythology

Salamanders have long found their place in mythology. Being known as the "Fire Lizard" in the Greek language, the salamander was known to have an affinity to fire or in religious terms represented a soul that could not be destroyed by fire. A large amount of symbolism and legends have derived from this creature through the centuries allowing art and literature to depict salamanders in magical forms. A well known piece created in the 16th century by Manly P. Hall revealed the then Pope as a fire resilient monster.
















M.P. Hall's depiction of the pope as a salamander
Titled "Secret Teachings of All Ages"- 16th Century


Pliny the Elder, a Roman author, naturalist, and natural professor, was one of the first ancient scientists to study salamanders between 23AD-79AD. He identified the difference between a salamander and lizard, describe species still common today, and recorded their ecology. Pliny the Elder revealed salamanders as creatures able to put out fires with their frigid body temperatures. The well-known philosopher Aristotle also defined salamanders by this resistance to fire.

So just how did salamanders acquire the myth of fire resistance? The magical powers were attributed to salamanders due to the specific species Salamandra salamandra, or the fire salamander. This salamander finds its home inside tree trunks, leaf litter, and decaying wood. When people began to using this wood on their fires the salamanders would "emerge" from the fire. Many quickly began to think that they were fire proof and created out of the flames.










(Salamandra salamandra)


Today, salamanders are not known for their myth of fire resistance, but more for their charismatic, innocent appearance. They are still commonly used as in art and literature today- a well known example being Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.

Works Cited

"The Legendary Salamander"
http://www.dragonorama.com/creatures/salamander/index.html

"Fire Lizard"
http://www.lifeasmyth.com/journal_planet_Salamander.html