Symbolism of Fire

by Mark Hughes

Related Links History: Flame and Torch Summer Olympics 2008 Biography: Prometheus

Fire has had a very significant role in humanity's development. Its varied uses show the importance of fire for humankind. Some of those uses have been:

Read more about the History of the Olympic Torch, Flame, and Relay.

• In Ritual: many cultures saw fire as being a supernatural force. For instance, the ancient Greeks believed fire had divine origins, see the story of Prometheus, and maintained perpetual fires in front of their temples.
• Light: Fire has provided illumination through the ages. When people go camping they light a fire to cook, be warm, and to keep the darkness of night at bay; this is as close as many people will get to existing with fire like their ancient ancestors did.
• Warmth: The air can get cold after the sun goes down, especially during winter. Fire has helped keep humanity warm through the ages.
• Cooking: Before ancient humans learned how to use fire, all of their food had to be eaten raw.
• Protection: Fire provided humanity with protection, through its light and heat, against the many animals that might have attacked or hunted them.
• Creation: The ability to use fire as a tool has helped humanity invent and develop many things and techniques, ranging from smelting metals to providing enough thrust to blast ships into space.