The spotted salamander is a fascinating creature with a special place in the animal kingdom. It has smooth and cool skin and typically measures around fifteen centimeters in length. The salamander’s black coat, spotted with bright yellow, gives it a unique and beautiful appearance. While the creature depends on the aquatic environment for reproduction, its association with fire makes it mysterious and strange.

How can an aquatic animal be linked to fire?

Throughout the centuries, these amphibians have inspired legends, symbols, and even royal emblems, military mottos, and heating appliance brands as if they were guardians of fire.

Origins of the legend

At the heart of this fascination lies an ancient belief that salamanders hibernated in hollow stumps, which were then often salvaged for firewood. Once ignited, these logs would awaken the salamanders, which would emerge from the flames.

French salamanders added to their mystique with their toxic saliva, capable of burning the skin of anyone who dared touch them. This is why popular tradition has reinforced the idea of linking these enigmatic creatures to the element of fire.

Even François 1er believed it!

In 1510, the physician-botanist Joachim Camerarius reportedly observed and confirmed that the salamander was the only animal capable of surviving in fire. Given its status in the medical world, this information was taken seriously. François 1er then chose the salamander as his emblem to convey the message that he would survive any ordeal. He chose the motto ‘nutrisco and extingui’, meaning: I nourish (the good fire) and extinguish (the bad).

Philosophers say a word

The link between salamanders and fire was also emphasized by the Swiss physician-philosopher and alchemist Paracelsus in 1565. He associated salamanders with the element of fire, placing them alongside other magical creatures representing the natural elements.

The French artillery adopted the salamander as its emblem, surrounded by flames, with the motto “Nous aussi nous sommes à l’épreuve du feu” (“We too are fireproof”). This powerful symbolism has transcended the centuries, emphasizing resilience and strength, characteristics attributed to these fascinating creatures.

That’s enough! Let’s verify it!

In 1750, Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis, a French mathematician, philosopher, and man of letters, set out to ‘scientifically’ verify the legend that salamanders are resistant to fire. He threw dozens of them down a chimney…

Unfortunately, his observations disproved this belief, but the salamanders’ extraordinary reputation persisted.

The symbolism of the salamander will always stay

Over the centuries, the salamander has retained its status as a royal and magical symbol. Sculpted above the main doors of castles and depicted in the coffered ceilings of landmarks such as Chambord, it continues to intrigue and inspire. Even the Fontainebleau artillery school has adopted this creature surrounded by flames to illustrate its resilience in the face of fire.

The salamander, with its rich history of mysticism and symbolism, has even left its mark on the modern world by lending its name to a brand of heating appliances. Registered in 1889, this brand is now sought after by antique enthusiasts, a reminder of the continuing fascination with this extraordinary creature — the fire animal par excellence.