Origins of Fire: Ancient Myths From Around the World

by Einar Jensen

(your choice of epub or Kindle/mobi versions)

Origins of Fire is an entertaining collection of 29 fire-origin myths from diverse cultures separated by vast geographical distances, yet sharing recurring themes, such as fire’s representation of divine power, over and above its practical uses; the strong presence of animals possessing magical powers; and the need for trickery to obtain fire.

With animals that creep, crawl, swim, run and fly, these myths and stories originate from throughout North America and Australia, as well as Botswana, Bay of Bengal, Borneo, Melanesia, Samoa, and Nigeria. You’ll read about birds (kingfishers, ostriches, buzzards, hawks, crows, mud hens), toads and frogs, spiders and snakes, coyotes and cougars, squirrels and rabbits, dogs and wolverines, and even the mighty bear, the little mouse and Le-che-che, the hummingbird.

“When I was growing up I greatly enjoyed reading Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories, recounting the colorful and fanciful ways various animals came to be the way they are,” says editor Einar Jensen. “When I later went to college, Native American literature and history courses revived my interest in ancient stories that describe how and why our world is the way it is. Later, when I began researching new strategies for teaching our kids about fire, I turned to the fire myths related here.”

29 Ancient Myths

• How Fire Came to the Six Nations
• Who Was Given the Fire
• Bobok and the First Fire
• Koo-loo'-loo Fetches Fire from the Star-Women
• Tol-le-loo and the Flute
• Maui and the Mud-Hen
• Mantis Fools Greedy Ostrich
• The Theft of Fire from Thunder
• The Flood and the Theft of Fire
• The Boy Who Brought Fire
• Stealing Fire from the Bandicoot
• Biliku Saves the Fire
• The First Bush Fire
• How Coyote Brought Fire to the People
• Kanbi and Jitabidi Start the First Fire
• Stealing Fire from the Women
• Coyote Steals Fire
• Dog Swims to Steal Fire
• The Dog Teaches Man about Fire
• Grandmother Spider Steals the Fire
• The Hungry Fire
• Bears Lose Fire to Humans
• Wolverine Freezes to Death
• Rabbit Steals Fire
• Ti'iti'i Steals Fire from Mafuie
• Rabbit Steals Fire from the East
• Goorda Learns to Share Fire
• How Coyote Stole Fire
• Arámfè Sends Fire to Men

About Einar Jensen:

Einar Jensen is a veteran community risk reduction coordinator committed to teaching fire safety, injury prevention, and disaster preparedness. Prior to leaving the mountains, he was a volunteer firefighter for Clear Creek Fire Authority for twelve years and, concurrently, volunteered for eight years for Clear Creek Sheriff's Office Marmot Wildfire Crew. He studied environmental history at the University of Montana and University of Puget Sound and considers himself a recovering print journalist. He is member of the National Science Teaching Association and Colorado Risk Reduction Network.

Also by Einar Jensen: Ancient Fire, Modern Fire: Understanding and Living With Our Friend & Foe