Salamander

The mythical salamander resembles the real salamander somewhat in appearance, but makes its home in fires, the hotter the better. Its alleged resistance to fire was such that it lived in volcanoes. Pliny believed its body was cold enough to extinguish flames. Its spittle was so poisonous that a man's hair would fall off his body at its touch. This creature's presence was believed to poison wells and orchards.

The crowned salamander of François 1er

Etymology

From Greek Salambeander meaning chimney-man

Powers

The skin of the animal, which was known to resist the action of fire, came to be considered proof against that element. This cloth made of the skin/wool of salamanders was incombustible, and very valuable, for wrapping up precious items. These fireproof cloths appeared later to be composed of asbestos, a mineral, which is in fine filaments capable of being woven into a flexible cloth. The foundation of the above fables is supposed to be the fact that the salamander secrete from the pores of his body a milky juice, which when he is irritated is produced in considerable quantity, and would defend the body from fire.

Places

Species of salamanders are numerous and found in the northern hemisphere in habitats near water or under some protection on moist ground, usually in a forest. Most are small but some reach up to 5 feet in length. They live in brooks and ponds and other moist locations restricted to mostly the northern hemisphere, with the exception of a few species living in the northernmost part of South America. North America has the hellbender and the mudpuppy which can reach the length of a foot or more. In Japan and China the giant salamander is found, which reaches 5 feet (1.5m) and weighs up to 30 kilograms ^[1][2].

Symbol

The salamander represents those who pass through the fires of passion and of this world without stain. Therefore, it stands for chastity, loyalty, impartiality, virginity, courage, Jesus, Mary, and the faithful. The salamander is also used to symbolize the flames, which it passes through, and so is a symbol of fire, temptation, and burning desire. It was considered the "king of fire" and as such was representative of Christ who would baptize with the flames of the Holy Spirit. Cloquet considers Christ the salamander king of fire because he passed through the fires of hell after his crucifixion without harm. King Francois I of France used a salamander as his personal emblem.

History

Early travelers to China were shown garments supposedly woven from salamander wool; the cloth was completely unharmed by fire. The garments had actually been weaving|woven from asbestos. Later Paracelsus suggested that the salamander was the elemental of fire. Because of this, salamanders have often been associated with dragons because of their connection with fire. These myths originate in Europe from the fire salamander, Salamandra salamandra, which hibernates in and under rotting logs. When logs were brought indoors and put on the fire, the animals mysteriously appeared from the flames.

Stories

The following is from the "Life of Benvenuto Cellini," an Italian artist of the sixteenth century, written by himself:

"When I was about five years of age, my father, happening to be in a little room in which they had been washing, and where there was a good fire of oak burning, looked into the flames and saw a little animal resembling a lizard, which could live in the hottest part of that element. Instantly perceiving what it was, he called for my sister and me, and after he had shown us the creature, he gave me a box on the ear. I fell a-crying, while he, soothing me with caresses, spoke these words: 'My dear child, I do not give you that blow for any fault you have committed, but that you may recollect that the little creature you see in the fire is a salamander; such a one as never was beheld before to my knowledge.' So saying he embraced me, and gave me some money."

Quotes

Pliny

"This animal is so intensely cold as to extinguish fire by its contact, in the same way that ice does. It spits out a milky matter from its mouth, and whatever part of the human body is touched with this all the hairs fall off, and the part assumes the appearance of leprosy."

Isidore of Seville

"The Salamander is so called because it is strong against fire; and amid all poisons its power is the greatest. For other {poisonous animals} strike individuals; this slays very many at the same time; for if it crawls up a tree, it infects all the fruit with poison and slays those who eat it...It fights against fires, and alone among living things, extinguishes them. For it lives in the midst of flames without pain and without being consumed, and not only is it not burned, but it puts the fire out." (Brehaut, 1912)

See also

Giant Salamander

Popular Culture

• Salamander (arcade game) is a 2D shoot 'em up series by Konami. It is generally considered a sister series to Gradius, and the games feature a variation on the Gradius power-up system, as well as both horizontal and vertically scrolling levels.

• Salamanders are Magical beasts (Harry Potter)|magical beasts mentioned in the Harry Potter series.

• In Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, the salamander, along with the mythical Phoenix, is a symbol of the firemen.

• In the Discworld series of books, salamanders are used by Iconographers to create flash for their pictures

• The MMORPG World Of Warcraft features humanoid salamander creatures that can be found in the raid zone Molten Core, including several bosses. They are generally referred to as Flamewakers, which is likely a nod to the aforementioned information about fire salamanders.

• In Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Salamander can be summoned by Nathan, providing him with fire-elemental magic.

• In the second and third installments of the games in the Megaman: Battle Network series, a powerful attack known as the Salamander, harnessed the power of fire and sent a great flame in the shape of the creature flying at the enemy if the player had a style aligned with fire.

• In Lost Magic, the Salamander is one of the four elementals, found in Blaze Lake; attacks using fireballs.

• In Battletech, the Salamander is a fearsome Clan anti-battlemech and anti-infantry battle armor that utilizes a flamethrower type weapon in conjunction with incendiary missiles.

• In the anime Legendz, Salamander is an anthropomorphic salamander who is relegated a role as a minor character.