The symbol of fire came into everyday life of people even in those ancient times, when they only learned how to mine it or stored coal, which 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 mention
Ever since the Paleolithic, archaeological finds have come to us, on which you can find the symbol of fire, depicting heavenly light, in the form of lightning, and earth, mined by hand. Examining the finds of historians, one can understand that people believed that a bright spark descended from the thick clouds.
On the basis of this point of view, beliefs and cults were created. Moreover, this element was revered, because with its help the primitive miners were easier to manage to hunt. It was an effective tool in confronting predators.
Historians believe that the symbol of the element of fire first appeared among the natives living in Australia. It was believed that previously this powerful force was controlled by animals, and then it passed to man. Here for the first time the motive of abduction is seen, which can later be found in the myth of Prometheus.
If you look at the beliefs of the Indians who inhabited North America, you can find similar motives. 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 with the thing that the savior can move. This can be explained by the fact that at that time, mainly, people hunted by hunting, so that the seizure of goods was quite a common thing.
Assignment of power to a deity
When the period of settledness came, personified images appeared depicting the ancient symbol of fire. Typically, this was a female creation. In his honor, sculptures were created in the Paleolithic era, carved from bone or stone. Gender was emphasized quite explicitly and in most cases the figures were naked.
During the Neolithic and Mesolithic, these works of architecture become more schematic, however, a close relationship between the mother and the hostess of the house to maintain heat is still evident. While the men went hunting, the fair sex watched the hearth.
The habit of identifying the symbol of fire with a woman and a household has largely survived to this day. Over the centuries, superstitions and prohibitions have taken shape. For example, you can’t spit or throw garbage into the flame, because this element was associated with cleansing, expelling parasites, and providing medical care.
Wounds were burned with ash. Fumigated the premises, consecrated medicines. Among the Slavs, the flame was also associated with the well-being of the family and the health of the whole family.
Connection with the heavenly body
It is also interesting how the symbols of fire and the sun correlate. They cannot be called identical - rapprochement occurred on the basis of an increase in the number of rites and cults aimed at successfully cultivating the land and obtaining a good harvest. The ideology and symbolism of the fiery elements were 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 reaching heaven during the offering. In his pantheon, Agni is in second place, more than two hundred hymns are created about him, glorifying the power and might of a deity.
And in Iran, Atar occupies a similar place, in whose honor a huge number of temples were built. In ancient Greece, Hestia was glorified, who acts as the guardian of the hearth. In Rome it is Vesta. The rampaging and destructive power is personified by Ares, as well as Hephaestus. In addition, the Romans worshiped Vulcan.
Interpretation in creativity
The symbol of fire is quite widely used in art. Expressive hot tones can be found in the paintings of Van Gogh, who knew how to operate with color. On his canvases depicts 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 the sunflowers, long associated with the heavenly luminary 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 antipode of water.
The flame, by its nature, is very mystical and mysterious, it can both warm and hurt, everything that is born from it, however, it is identified with the end of life and eternal torment in hell. Closely related to the fire paintings of Shklyarsky and many famous classics of fine art. Nowadays, thematic exhibitions are held dedicated to the fiery essence. Looking at the oil canvas, it seems as if the flames and sparks depicted on it are moving.
Reward and heavy cross
Also called the element is considered as a way of testing a person. In Christianity there are many motives in which martyrs experience it or burn their bones after death in order to purify them.
In ancient Greek mythology, Hercules put on flaming clothes and thereby demonstrated his inhuman 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 by sending forth righteous anger on it. It is also believed in church tradition that after the soul passes Purgatory, angels take it out of the flames to Paradise.
Inner Light and Destruction
If you turn to psychology, you can find that with the help of this symbol often indicate 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 identified with inner fire are hidden passions in the soul of a person that are not visible to others, but finally break out, like a burst of volcanic lava. There is a bright spark in every mind, another thing is learning to use it for good, directing this energy to constructive and useful achievements, because a large accumulation of such forces can become an associate of something great, so lead to collapse and destruction.
In hoary antiquity, man learned to control external fire. The task of each person is to tame his own inner flame.