Unfortunately, toads and frogs have permeable skin, making them highly susceptible to environmental pollution. Will they remain in the wild, or only be remembered through myths and legends? SAVE THE FROGS! is doing everything we can to ensure that these amazing amphibians continue to live on in both the wild and as an integral part of our culture.
Artists have been inspired by frogs for millennia. Earth Day frog art by
2013 SAVE THE FROGS Art Contest Grand Prize Winner Nick Gustafson.
Introduction
Toads and frogs have appeared in myths, folklore, proverbs, and fairytales across cultures for many centuries. These amphibians have been features in children’s stories, rituals of many cultures, and myths all around the world.
Frogs
In medieval Europe Heket, the water goddess, often was depicted as a woman with the head of a frog. Frogs were also considered the symbol of Heqit, the midwife goddess who presided over conception and birth. As such, it was common for Egyptian women to wear metal amulets in the form of frogs to win her good favor.
Each year at the flooding of the Nile numerous frogs appeared. This event
was vital to agriculture because it provided water for distant fields. Frogs
represented abundance and therefore became a symbol for the number hufnu,
which meant 100,000. Many native cultures place small frog coins in their
purses because they believe that it prevents loss of money.
In some societies swallowing live frogs is believed to cure tuberculosis and
whooping cough. According to an old British legend, carrying a dried frog in
a pouch around your neck prevents epileptic seizures. Some cultures believe
that a frog coming in your home might be carrying a curse, while others
claim it brings good luck. Some African tribes believe that the death of a
frog will cause drought, while the Maori people say that killing a frog can
lead to heavy rains and floods.
Toads
Olmec tribes, known for the massive stone heads they carved from volcanic
rocks, created images of a toad god of rebirth consuming its own skin. In
many ancient Chinese legends the toad was viewed as a magician, master of
spells, and trickster. In many shamanistic traditions of South and Central
America, a hallucinogenic substance derived from toads and frogs is used to
purify the body.
In medieval Europe, toads were considered evil creatures whose body parts
had strange powers. Some of these views were formed by authors from
Classical Rome and Greece, whose writings had immense influence on the
public opinion. Shakespeare’s play As You Like It alludes to a widely held
superstition, which concerned a jewel that was supposed to be found inside
the head of the toad. Once placed in a ring or necklace, this jewel, known
as “toad-stone”, would warm up or change color in the presence of venom,
protecting the wearer from foul play. Additionally, toads took on the role
of evil spirits who assisted witches in their evil designs.
In this culture toads were also considered symbols of romantic jealousy. For
many cultures, such as ancient Egypt, frogs and toads represented fertility
and were associated with renewal and rebirth. In pre-Colombian Mesoamerica
frogs and toads were viewed as spirits of rain. These amphibians were used
in many rituals that were thought to bring the rains. The Aymara tribe of
Peru and Bolivia blamed toads for droughts and punished them for withholding
the rain.
The early Aztecs viewed the toad as the earth mother goddess, who governed
the cycle of death and rebirth. The ancient Chinese viewed the toad as a
female force and the moon was seen as its symbol. As such many Chinese tales
allude to the toad whose face is visible only at the full moon. This
moon-toad was also thought to swallow the moon at times causing eclipses.
Unfortunately, toads and frogs have permeable skin, making them highly
susceptible to environmental pollution. Will they remain in the wild, or
only be remembered through myths and legends? SAVE THE FROGS! is doing
everything we can to ensure that these amazing amphibians continue to live
on in both the wild and as an integral part of our culture.
SAVE THE FROGS! is the world's most effective amphibian conservation organization.
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