What are Fire Elementals?
Salamanders are what Paracelsus called the elementals of fire. While this description may seem as far from fire to us today, many early writings before his time linked the salamander to fire in one way or another. The Talmud in fact mentions that salamanders are the product of fire and that you would be immune to fire if smeared in its blood.
Other stories relate the fact that salamanders are seen coming from the flames of fires and that the milky substance that they will exude to keep their skin moist or when they are scared may have given people the idea that they could withstand the flames. Escaping from a rotting log thrown into a family fire might give some people this impression.
Others note that they would more than likely be thrown into the category of reptile that was often associated with things such as dragons and basilisks which were also said to breathe fire. This may have given the misinterpretation that they, too, could do such a thing and again the association would be made.
However it came about we do have some references that we still use that might associate fire with the salamander or at least a living creature such as; "flames licked", "fire breathes", "dancing flames" and so on. All of these things indicate a living creature and one that we must avoid or at least be wary of. I have yet to see a fire elemental myself but I have always been fascinated with fire, ever since I first played with the flame of a candle, and I would love to see what they look like since I just know they are there!
Other stories relate the fact that salamanders are seen coming from the flames of fires and that the milky substance that they will exude to keep their skin moist or when they are scared may have given people the idea that they could withstand the flames. Escaping from a rotting log thrown into a family fire might give some people this impression.
Others note that they would more than likely be thrown into the category of reptile that was often associated with things such as dragons and basilisks which were also said to breathe fire. This may have given the misinterpretation that they, too, could do such a thing and again the association would be made.
However it came about we do have some references that we still use that might associate fire with the salamander or at least a living creature such as; "flames licked", "fire breathes", "dancing flames" and so on. All of these things indicate a living creature and one that we must avoid or at least be wary of. I have yet to see a fire elemental myself but I have always been fascinated with fire, ever since I first played with the flame of a candle, and I would love to see what they look like since I just know they are there!
