Since ancient times, this small black amphibian with yellow spots has embodied the extraordinary virtue of withstanding the destructive force of fire unharmed.
A cold-blooded creature and lover of damp environments, it was said to feed on flames to warm itself. Moreover, when threatened, the salamander secretes, through its venomous glands, a liquid capable of causing immediate inflammation in its predator—a trait that over time has reinforced its symbolic connection to fire.
In the Middle Ages, fire, and in particular the stake, became the weapon used to incinerate the bodies and souls of sinners, purging them of the evil that had corrupted their lives. The salamander, which instead resists fire, was associated in medieval Bestiaries with the courage of those who voluntarily stifle their earthly passions, choosing to live the virtuous life of a good Christian.
With the Renaissance, the symbol of the salamander acquired new meanings. In carnal love, often evoked as a devouring fire, not only sin but also the fragility of human nature is recognized, incapable of escaping its enchantment. The lover cannot resist this amorous fire that envelops, burns, and consumes; they feed on it, torn between agony and joy. The desire to revel in this cruel and sweet torment finds one of its boldest expressions in poetry, sublimating itself in the symbol of the salamander.
In the upcoming articles, I will guide you through three representations of the salamander: in art, sculpture, and poetry of the Venetian Renaissance, all united by a red thread—the thread of passionate love—that binds them together.
