Frogs and Toads in Religion, Mythology, and Witchcraft

Egyptian history notes that frogs were believed to have been formed from mud and water; a belief that seems to be a reflection of the semi-aquatic amphibian lifestyle. This belief materialized as a result of Nile River floods during the rainy season, when frogs would seemingly appear out of nowhere and begin their mating rituals. 

Frogs weaved their way into Egyptian religion over time, which can be seen in the frog-shaped goddess Heket (Heqet). Heket was an important figure in Egyptian mythology, and was associated with matters of fertility and pregnancy. Ancient hieroglyphs show Heket assisting her creator husband, (Khnum), by shaping a child in a mother's womb. Heket was believed to give all creatures the "breath of life" before they were placed in the mother's womb. Heket was also responsible for re-animating Osiris's limbs after death. The correlation between frogs and fertility could have come from the large number of eggs produced by frogs and toads each season (often hundreds or even thousands in a single season). 

Frogs were also depicted on jewelry and other ornaments in ancient Egypt and other civilizations. Frog-laden knives placed atop the bellies of pregnant women and newborn babies were believed to bring protection to the youngsters. Frogs in general were so important to the early Egyptians that they were often embalmed upon death.

Greeks and Romans adopted much of the Egyptians' traditions, including the belief that frogs were created from mud and water. It was also around this time that the "Frog Rain" phenomena was recognized. During the ancient times, before global amphibian declines, frogs often reproduced in hordes during their mating season. Thousands of tiny frogs and toads covered walkways, entered homes, invaded public areas, and were generally regarded as pests. This was dubbed "Frog Rain" because such occurrences always happened after the first heavy rains of the season. 

Frogs were also associated with weather predictions because they would begin croaking just before rains. Preceding this observation, frogs were often impaled until they screamed, and weather predictions would be made based upon the nature of their screams. Witches were also believed to control the weather by concocting brews of snakes, toads, and frogs, often referred to as "Toad Soup". 

Frogs and toads in general have been associated with dark magic and other evil matters for centuries. Legends tell tales of witches mangling toad bodies in satanic rituals, or concocting malicious spells and potions from the body parts of toads. Basque tradition held that witches could be identified by the presence of a marking in the shape of a toads foot, and in the Great Pyrenees, witches were thought to have a toad image in the left eye. Other myths tell tales of witches extracting toad skin secretions, or collecting toad saliva for use in flying potions, and invisible spells.

In ancient Christianity, frogs were typically revered as evil demonized creatures, especially in the book of Revelations. Apostles frequently donned their lessons with deliberate questions such as,  "What do frogs and sinners have in common? They both live in dirt!". Frogs were also associated with gossip, boastful sinners, and hypocrites. The fact that frogs resided in swamps, which were considered ugly and unsanitary, was used to exemplify the power of baptismal water to expunge evil and purify sinners. In middle-aged Europe, it was said that the Devil displayed three toads on his coat-of-arms. It was also believed that toads conspired to poison people, and were possessed by witch's spirits. Some tales expound complicated and delicate procedures for removing a toad from ones home, so as not to disturb the witch's spirit and incur its wrath.

Animals in general were considered loathsome or evil in medieval times. People were taught that animals were the embodiment of sinners, and when humans sinned, they were like animals. It was believed that the purpose of civilization was to overcome animalistic characteristics, thus becoming close to God and further from evil. This idea is best illustrated in the way Native Americans were treated by European settlers. Native Americans were regarded as "savages" and "animals", placing them below the mark of civilization, and thus making them heathens in the eyes of Christians, Catholics, and other European religions and groups.

The illustration above shows a mediaeval Christian depiction of an attack by giant, plague-ridden frogs. The men are trying to destroy the "wicked" frogs as they come out of the water to torment and infect mankind (Sacred Pageant of the Ages Vol 02). In the background, small children can be seen trying to flee the frogs.

Although contradictory to the common beliefs, some Christian documentation portrays frogs and toads as semi-mischievous house guardians. Interestingly, the Christian visionary, Jakob Lorber (1800-1864) claimed to have received the following message from the Lord, alluding to the role of frogs as teachers of life:

"The frog croaks almost all day in joy of the life stirring in his puddle and praises me with his croaking joy about the gift of life".

Frogs and Toads in Ancient Science

In Alchemy, toads were also associated with flight, and symbolized the watery-earth portion of the Ur matter (primeval matter). Toads fall into alchemic beliefs as follows: The Ur matter on its way to the stone of wisdom must be saturated in the juice of the moon (milk) in order to be nourished. The child that is to grow is nursed by its mother, who gives her life in the process (ablactatio). This tale was metaphorically described in such inscriptions as, "Set a toad upon a woman's breast, so that it may suck, and the woman die, the toad will grow very large from the milk".

Amphibians were regarded in the ancient times, and into the middle ages, as possessing medicinal properties. Frog potions were used as aphrodisiacs, impotence and infertility preventions, contraceptives, and more. Frog liver was believed to consist of two halves, one of which is the antidote to all any poison in the world, and toad lungs were believed to be the means of  the "perfect murder of a husband". Frogs were also used in rituals thought to remove any thoughts of adultery from ones wife, if performed correctly. Undoubtedly, many experienced illness or death after ingesting or applying some sort of frog-made brew that included the animals toxic secretions.

Newts and Salamanders

This leads to the origin of the of the vernacular name "Fire Salamander", given to the species Salamandra salamandra. Although not proven indefinitely, it is believed that the correlation of salamanders to fire originated upon seeing salamanders flee from bonfires and fire pits when collected wood was set ablaze. Because salamanders inhabit cool, damp places, they may have been inadvertently taken home in collected fire wood. When the wood was kindled, the salamanders would attempt to flee to safety. Such a site could have prompted such notions as the salamanders affinity for, or immunity to fire. The belief that salamanders can extinguish flames may have arisen from the possibility that as the salamanders fled from the fire, the fire diminished because the log was wet. Not relating the two, the quenched fire may have been blamed on the salamander. 

Salamanders and newts were also used for medicinal purposes. They were often burned to ashes, which were collected and used in medicinal formulas and concoctions. The saliva of a salamander was believed to make hair fall out. Even today, the skins, bodies, and body parts of salamanders are used in traditional medicine. Torched newts are sometimes sold in Asia as aphrodisiacs, and the skins of certain species are said to cure illnesses.

Salamanders and newts were also negatively associated with cows. It was believed that salamanders or newts would suckle cows if they were caught laying down, resulting in the cows inability to produce milk from that point forward. The origin of this myth is though to come from sightings of dead newts and salamanders who might have released their milky fluid upon being squashed by an oblivious cow. 

Morgan, Adrian. Toads and Toadstools: The Natural History, Folklore, and Cultural Oddities of a Strange Association. Sea Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts: 1995.