Myth and Symbol

The Bringers of Fire

In Africa animals are ofted credited with the acquisition of fire. The Pygmies attribute its arrival to a dog or to the chimpanzees, while the Ila people of Zambia say that a mason wasp brought fire from the High God to the earth. The San (Bushmen), in the following myth say that fire was stolen by the praying mantis, a creaure widely regarded by Adricans as Sacred.

One day Mantis noticed something strange: the place where Ostrich ate his food always smelt good. Mantis crept close to Ostrich while he was eating and saw that he was roasting on a fire. When he had finished eating, Ostrich carefully tucked the fire under his wing.

Then Mantis thought of a trick by which he could get that fire for himself. He went to Ostrich and told him: "I have found a wonderful tree with delicious fruit. Follow me and I will show it to you!" Ostrich followed Mantis to the tree that was covered with yellow plums. As Ostrich began to eat Mantis told him "Reach up, the best fruit is at the top!" As Ostrich stood on tip-toe, opening his wings wide to balance himself as he tried to get the fruit, Mantis stole the fire from under his wing. From that time Ostrich never attempted to fly again but always kept his wings close to his body.

Afterwards, the story continues, Mantis was destroyed in his own fire, and out of his ashes and bones two different Mantises were made: one reserved and throughtful, the other bold and enterprising. One day the baboons kille dthe son of bold Mantis and took out his eye. The spirit of Mantis saw what happened in a dream and did battle with the baboons, defeating them and retrieving the eye. He immersed it in water and it grew into a new being.

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The Bringers of Fire

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