Prometheus’ lure.





After helping friends’ who have just moved in to a new house, the boxes used to have transport their belongings needed to be disposed of, as the bin-men now won’t actually pick up anything not in a bag and only 3 boxes fitting in a bin bag we decided to burn them ( Not exactly environmentally friendly, but at least it’s carbon neutral -- They‘re cardboard).

Once we lit it and started piling cardboard on the blaze and as the flames rose higher, looking at the flames a kind of calm descended. We got some garden chairs, a beer and sat looking at the flames.
It got me wondering why… Fire can be lethal, cause us intense pain and can destroy our property, why would something so deadly be so enthralling?
We enjoy having open fires and even have flame effect gas fires if can’t have the genuine article. We light candles to mediate or create romantic mood in a room. Think of bonfire night, the original meaning has long been lost and effect of fire on the spectators is why I think it has lasted so long.
Many religions have fire gods and some more than one.
My guess is that it’s a deep-down primal part of the human psyche from the time we were living in caves and bludgeoning mammoths to death, at that time fire kept you warm, kept away predators and allowed you to cook. I’ve searched the net for anything to back-up my theory but I couldn’t find anything ( I guess I need lessons on searching). Also this compulsion for fire can become warped in some people and they become arsonists.