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Fire Thieves of Mythology

Because most people know the Greek titan Prometheus, who gave his favourite creations fire and was chained to a rock and plagued by an eagle for his troubles, but it’s nice to see that he is in good company, because tales of fire being stolen for humanity are incredibly widespread. Here are some of my favourites:

Ekoi, collected in Nigeria

Obassi Osau, ruler of the sky, created everything on earth except fire, which he would not give to the humans yet. After Etim Ne, the oldest human and leader of them all, could not convince the god to give him fire, a boastful boy made his way up to the sky realm instead. There he worked so diligently that Obassi Osau let him stay as a servant. He was even allowed to fetch the burning lamps from Obassi Osau’s wives. Once he was trusted enough to light such a lamp on his own, the boy stole a piece of smouldering firewood and wrapped it in leaves so he could hide it under his shawl. First made a fire in the woods and covered it with leaves to keep it smouldering but hide the smoke. Once everyone was asleep he carried a smouldering piece of wood all the way to earth and brought it to Etim Ne. There they lit the first fire ever made on earth. But the smoke betrayed the presence of fire on the earth, so Obassi Osau sent his eldest son Akpan Obassi down to confront the thief. The boy confessed what he had done and as punishment his legs were paralysed. The fire, however, remained in the possession of humankind.

French, collected in the Provance

One day during lent, when humankind should have been fasting and God the Father heard them eating, drinking, smoking and singing below, he declared that as punishment he would take away their fire. The whole earth became sombre and silent and now there was such sorrow, no one sang the praises of God. Even God the Father had not foreseen this, so he sent his angel Gabriël down to earth as a fire seller. Gabriël offered his glowing coals to the humans on the market, but the price was to live a pious life without sin and no one dared to pay that price. At nightfall an old woman came to the market stall and begged for just a little fire, repeatedly nudging her walking stick against the coals. Gabriël refused her, but when she left she had managed to get the tip of her walking stick aglow. She lit a fire in her hearth, shared it with all her neighbours and by the time Gabriël had returned, the smell of roasting food and merriment drifted up to heaven once more. Gabriël felt humiliated, but the Almighty was glad to hear the humans sing songs of praise again and so the humans got to keep their fire.

Honourable mention, because fire is not stolen here but given freely:

Chewong, collected in Malaysia

A long, long time ago there was no night in the realm where humans live, which is called Earth Seven. They did not have fire either and the moon was just another star. One day a boy lost his knife through a hole in the ground and when he followed it, he fell down on Earth Eight, where the bi asal (the original people) live, who are very old. They were welcoming to him and when it got dark and he got frightened, they explained to him that this was night. Then they taught him what resin torches were and what fire was and he explained that they had none of this on his earth. So the people put some night in a bamboo stick for him to take home and they gave him fire, resin for torches, and tobacco. With these gifts the boy returned home. First he poured the night out of the bamboo and it became so dark that all the people there became very frightened. But then he gave them the resin torches for light and the fire to cook food. And then he smoked tobacco and they all were very frightened to see the smoke come from his mouth, but he assured them it tasted good.

mythology folklore ekoi mythology chewong mythology french mythology african folklore french folklore malaysian folklore laura babbles prometheus fire cw smoking
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the2headedcalf-moved

i think a lot about how it is such a common experience to withstand our deepest pains and sorrows on our own and never even shed a tear, then, the moment someone offers us comfort, we break down completely

the2headedcalf-moved

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it surprises me, how a gesture so small can feel so very big. how sometimes you don't realize the nervousness or sadness you were holding deep inside until the touch of someone you love lets it all out of you, like your entire body is exhaling

by lucy keating

wolfsskull

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