The ancient symbol of fire: description, features and history of culture

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

The symbol of fire entered the everyday life of people back in those ancient times, when they only learned how to mine it or stored coals that appeared from a fire provoked by a lightning strike. In any case, a person understood the useful functions of this good for a very long time and tried in every possible way to adapt it to his needs.

First mentions

Ever since the Paleolithic, archaeological finds have come down to us, on which you can find a symbol of fire, depicting both heavenly light, in the form of lightning, and earthly light, mined by hand. Examining the finds of historians, one can understand that people believed that a bright spark descends from the thick of the clouds.

Based on this point of view, beliefs and cults were created. This element was all the more revered, because with its help it was easier for primitive miners to hunt. It was an effective tool in countering predators.

Historians believe that the symbol of the element of fire first appeared among the Aborigines living in Australia. It was believed that earlier this powerful force was owned by animals, and then it passed to man. Here, for the first time, the motif of the abduction is seen, which can later be found in the myth of Prometheus.

If you understand the beliefsIndians who inhabited North America, you can find similar motifs. There is also a cultural hero who gives people warmth and light. But the symbol of fire in all these stories is not animated, but equated to a thing that a savior can move. This can be explained by the fact that at that time, people mainly hunted, so the capture of goods was quite common.

Assigning powers to a deity

When the settled period began, personalized images appeared, depicting the ancient symbol of fire. As a rule, it was the creation of a female. In his honor, sculptures were created in the Paleolithic era, carved from bone or stone. The gender was emphasized quite clearly and in most cases the figures were naked.

During the Neolithic and Mesolithic, these works of architecture become more schematic, but the close attitude of the mother, the mistress of the house, to maintaining heat is still traced. While the men went hunting, the fair sex looked after the hearth.

The habit of identifying the symbol of fire with a woman and household has largely survived to this day. Over the centuries, superstitions and prohibitions have developed. For example, one should not spit or throw garbage into a flame, because cleansing, expelling parasites, and providing medical care were associated with this element.

Ash was used to cauterize wounds. They fumigated the premises, consecrated medicines. The Slavs also associated the flame with the well-being of the family and the he alth of the whole family.

Connection with heavenlyluminary

It is also interesting how the symbols of fire and the sun correlate. They cannot be called identical - the rapprochement occurred on the basis of an increase in the number of rites and cults aimed at successful cultivation of the land and obtaining a good harvest. The ideology and symbolism of the fire element intertwined among many Eastern and ancient peoples.

So, one of the Vedic deities is Agni, which can be learned from mythology. He personifies the sacrificial flame that reaches the heavens during the offering. In his pantheon, Agni is in second place, more than two hundred hymns have been created about him, glorifying the strength and power of the deity.

And in Iran, a similar place is occupied by Atar, in honor of which a huge number of temples were built. In ancient Greece, Hestia was glorified, which acts as the guardian of the hearth. In Rome, this is Vesta. Rampant and destructive power is personified by Ares, as well as Hephaestus. In addition, the Romans worshiped Vulcan.

Interpretation in art

The symbol of fire is quite widely used in art. Expressive hot tones can be found in the paintings of Van Gogh, who perfectly knew how to operate with color. His canvases depict how the beautiful light of the sun sparkles.

To find the best lighting, the artist moved to the southern part of France, where he captured sunflowers, which have long been associated with heavenly bodies and fire. You can also be inspired by this element by looking at the works of many other outstanding creators. It is associated in the minds of people with the Spirit and God and is the antipodewater.

The flame is very mystical and mysterious by its nature, it can both warm and hurt, everything that exists is born from it, however, it is also identified with the end of life and eternal torment in hell. The paintings of Shklyarsky and many famous classics of fine arts are closely connected with fire. Nowadays, thematic exhibitions dedicated to the fiery essence are held. Looking at the oil canvas, it seems as if the flames and sparks depicted on it are moving.

Reward and heavy cross

Also named element is considered as a way to test a person. There are many motives in Christianity in which martyrs are tested with it or their bones are burned after death, for the purpose of purification.

In ancient Greek mythology, Hercules put on flaming clothes and thus demonstrated his superhuman strength. You can find information about the characters who were chained to the hot wheel.

A separate place is occupied by the biblical myth of Sodom and Gomorrah, when the Lord cleansed the sinful territory, sending down righteous anger on it. Also, in the church tradition, it is believed that after the soul passes Purgatory, the angels take it out of the flames to Paradise.

Inner light and destruction

If we turn to psychology, we can find that this symbol often denotes the dual nature of the human psyche. On the one hand, it is warmth, comfort, light, material comforts and benefits, and on the other hand, the processes of destruction, the desire to destroy already created things and create new ones.

Often withinternal fire identifies the hidden passions in the human soul, which are not visible to others, but, finally, break out like a blast of volcanic lava. There is a bright spark in every mind, it's another matter to learn how to use it for good, direct this energy to constructive and useful achievements, because a large accumulation of such forces can either become an associate of something great, or lead to collapse and destruction.