A cauldron or caldron (from Latin caldarium, hot bath) is a large metal pot (kettle) for cooking and/or boiling over an open fire, with a large mouth and frequently with an arc-shaped hanger.

Contents 1 Symbolism and mythology 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Symbolism and mythology

Cauldrons have largely fallen out of use in the industrialized world as cooking vessels. While still used, a more common association in Western culture is the cauldron's use in witchcraft—a cliché popularized by various fictions, such as Shakespeare's play Macbeth. In fantastic fiction, witches often prepare their potions in a cauldron. Also, in legend, a cauldron is purported to be where leprechauns keep their treasure.

In Wicca, a cauldron can be placed in a sacred circle and used to burn items that will be set alight during a ritual (e.g. Tuitéan & Daniels 2001, pp.175-176). It is a symbol of the womb of the Goddess (Zimmermann & Gleason 2000, p. 74; Iles 2005, p. 689) and rebirth (Starhawk 1999, p.109; Tuitéan & Daniels 2001, p. 330; Iles 2005, p. 689) as it was in ancient British Celtic religion (Webster 1987 pp. 60–61) and is sacred to the Goddess. Water can be placed into a cauldron for scrying (a method of divining the future) or it can hold the ingredients necessary for a spell or incantation.

In some forms of Wicca which incorporate aspects of Celtic mythology, the cauldron is associated with the goddess Cerridwen. Celtic legend also tells of a cauldron that was useful to warring armies: dead warriors could be put into the cauldron and would be returned to life, save that they lacked the power of speech. It was suspected that they lacked souls. These warriors could go back into battle until they were killed again.

The holy grail of Arthurian legend is sometimes referred to as a "cauldron", although traditionally the grail is thought of as a hand-held cup rather than the large pot that the word "cauldron" usually is used to mean. This may have resulted from the combination of the grail legend with earlier Celtic myths of magical cauldrons.

Real symbolic cauldrons include:

• the Gundestrup cauldron, made in the second or first century BC, found at Gundestrup, Denmark
• a Bronze Age cauldron found at Hassle, Sweden
• the cauldron where the Olympic Flame burns for the duration of the Olympic Games

Mythical cauldrons include:

• Dagda's Cauldron
• The Cauldron of Dyrnwch the Giant

[edit] See also

• Kama (Japanese tea ceremony)
• Fire Pot
• Gulyásleves
• Hassle
• Sacrificial tripod
• Amrit Sanskar

[edit] References

Iles, J., THE ELEMENT ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WITCHCRAFT. London: HarperElement, 2005.

Starhawk, THE SPIRAL DANCE, A REBIRTH OF THE ANCIENT RELIGION OF THE GODDESS. SPECIAL 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 1999.

Tuitéan, P. and Daniels, E., ESSENTIAL Wicca. Freedom, CA: The Crossing Press, 2001.

Webster, G., CELTIC RELIGION IN ROMAN BRITAIN. Totowa, NJ: Barnes & Noble Books, 1987.

Zimmermann, D. and Gleason, K.A., THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO Wicca and Witchcraft.Indianapolis, IN: Alpha Books, 2000.

A Witches'-Caldron Table

Three-legged iron pots being used to cater for a school-leavers' party in Botswana. Everyday cooking is done in the school kitchens.

Cauldrons were also used for execution purposes. Wax figure depiction taken in Madame Tussauds, London.

[edit] External links

• Holy Grail
• A cauldron in a circle