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Our attempts to master fire have both civilised and corrupted us. Why are we fascinated with fire and what do myths tell us about how we view its power?

Why do we have such a fascination with fire? Our attempts to master fire have shaped who we have become – in some cases civilising us, but in other cases, corrupting us. What motivates arsonists to use fire as a weapon and what do the various myths about the origins of fire tell us about how we view its power?

(Image: A boy practising fire breathing on the roof of a building. Credit: Getty Images)

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18 minutes

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Mon 15 Jul 2013 08:32GMT
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online

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  • Fri 12 Jul 2013 18:32GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
  • Sat 13 Jul 2013 22:32GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
  • Sun 14 Jul 2013 11:32GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
  • Mon 15 Jul 2013 01:32GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online
  • Mon 15 Jul 2013 08:32GMT
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service Online

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