I am trying to find out more about the symbolism of the salamander motif on Moroccan Berber silver pendants esp. the hamza ?
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I am trying to find out more about the symbolism of the salamander motif on Moroccan Berber silver pendants esp. the hamza ?
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In Jewish mythology the salamander represents FIRE ... in fact the Rashi said that the blood of a salamander prevents one from being consumed by fire (bit barbaric for me) ... I have often seen the salamander on hamzot and wondered about the strong Berber influence which was essentially Jewish and Pagan thousands of years ago.
The anecdotes i have collected in Morocco are related as such.
There is also a tale of a saharan 'sandfish' which is a lizard which buries itself in the sand through the driest times and re appears when there is moisture.
Does anyone have other anecdotes or even scientific salamander data which will support or refute these concepts??.
Sx.