Salamander, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The salamander, renowned for its legendary connection to fire, is said to possess extraordinary abilities that set it apart from all other creatures. According to myth, the salamander can withstand flames without harm—living right in the heart of the blaze.

Pliny the Elder, a Roman author and naturalist, described the salamander as having such a cold body that it could extinguish fire merely by touching it. This belief was echoed in various ancient texts and art, where the salamander's connection to fire became a prominent theme.

Unlike other venomous animals that pose a threat to individuals, the salamander's venom is described as uniquely powerful, capable of affecting many at once. If it crawls into a tree, it taints all the fruit, poisoning anyone who eats it. Similarly, if it falls into a well, its venom contaminates the water, endangering all who drink from it. This creature is said to extinguish flames entirely, embodying an unmatched resilience and an almost magical defiance of nature’s fiercest element.

In Christian bestiaries, the salamander’s supposed ability to endure fire without harm was interpreted as a symbol of purity and faith. Just as the salamander could supposedly live in flames without being burned, the true believer could pass through the fires of temptation and sin without being corrupted. This made the salamander symbolic of steadfastness in faith and the soul's triumph over the trials of earthly life.

It was also likened to Christ or saints who endured suffering and emerged unscathed, representing the idea of resurrection and eternal life. This interpretation reinforced the salamander’s status as a creature that, through divine grace, could conquer the fiery trials of the world.

Salamandra vocatur; quod contra incen-
dia valere. Cuius inter omnia ve-
nenata vis maxima est. Cetera enim singulos
feriunt; hec plurimos pariter interimit. Nam
si irrepserit arbori; omnia poma inficit vene-

It is called salamander, for it is able to withstand fire. Among all venomous creatures, it has the greatest power. Whilst others harm people one at a time, this one can harm many simultaneously. If it creeps into a tree, it poisons all the fruits

no. et eos qui ea ederint inficit veneno et sic oc-
cidit. Que etiam vel si in puteum cadat(changed from cadant) vis ve-
neni eius potantes interimit. Ista contra in-
cendia repugnans; sola animalium ignes ex-
tinguit. Vivit enim in mediis flamis; sine dolo-
re. et consumptione. et non solum non uritur;
set extinguit incendium et flammas

and the poison kills those who eat them. If this creature falls into a well, its venom kills those who drink the water. It withstands fire[1]: it is the only animal able to do it. It lives in the midst of flames without feeling pain and not only does it not burn but also extinguishes fire and flames.

Further Reading

David Badke, The Bestiary Blog: Animals in the Middle Ages, Salamander, November 6 2023, https://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast276.htm

Josh Goldenberg (BA 2012) and Matt Shanahan (BA 2014, Logeion, November 2022, https://logeion.uchicago.edu/

Castiglioni, L. and Mariotti, S. (1996). Vocabolario della Lingua Latina: Latino-Italiano Italiano-Latino. Terza Edizione. Loescher Torino

Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Wikipedia: The Elephant, 28 November 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant

Matthews, J. and Matthews C., (2010), The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures, HarperCollins UK, London

Curley, M. J., Physiologus: A Medieval Book of Nature Lore (University of Chicago edition 2009)

Rackham, H., M.A., Pliny Natural History Volume III, Libri VIII-XI (London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1949)

Collins, A. H., M.A., Symbolism of Animals and Birds (New York: McBride, Nast & Company, 1913)

Henderson, C., The Book of Barely Imagined Beings (London: University of Chicago Press, 2013)

White, T. H., The Bestiary: A Book of Beasts (New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons, 1960)

Barney, S. A., Lewis, W. J., Beach A., Berghof O., The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006)

Endnotes

[1] The idea that salamanders are immune to fire is a myth that originates from ancient and medieval folklore. In reality, salamanders are not immune to fire and do not have any special abilities to resist or extinguish flames. The myth likely originated from observations of real salamanders hiding in logs or piles of wood. When these logs were thrown into a fire, the salamanders would suddenly emerge, giving the impression that they had been born from or were resistant to the flames.