The Allegorical Value of Frogs

I have been collecting frogs since I was a child. From the live frogs I collected in aquariums, to the glass
frogs I would later collect as an adult. Most recently, I approached a large frog just so I could touch it on
the head. Naturally it leaped into the water, but I felt accomplished none-the-less.

So, what is it with frogs anyway?

Italian song, Lu Rusciu te lu mare (watch the video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=0jryWN38HfQ&feature=player_embedded)

Background of the song:

Singing passoniale Gallipoli tells of an impossible love between the daughter of a king and a soldier, a
love prevented, in a time when class distinctions were very much alive, so that the author compares the
conflict between Turks and Spaniards, historical invaders of our land.

The year in which it seems that this song had emerged as one of many popular songs is typical of the area
in 1978, by Luigi Cardigliano, originally Ugento (LE), a boy who at the time was in Florence.

It was in this city for several years, from 1974 to 1980 in Piazza della Signoria or near the Uffizi Palace
was created a sort of ethnic community, comprising people orgine Puglia, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia.
These were mainly young people who were there to study and every night, all night until dawn, driven by
the desire entertainment night, were given appointment in the usual spot.

It was a kind of theater that it was formed, where each partner brings their own musical experiences: there
was one who had talent for singing, who invest for the dance.

The original Presena a rather slow pace, was Louis Cardigliano to change making it more rich musical
arrangements and giving it a more measured pace. The same Cardigliano, who sang this song solo, he
added a verse which became the last. The peculiarity of this song, among other things typical of all the
others that arose and spread at that time was the absence of music.
Chrea created this harmony of sounds was the polyphony of voices: three or four different voices that
overlap each other gave birth to a melody sound rare in its sweetness. Had not used any tools.

It was around 1993-94 when Bruno plucked, of Melissano (LE), a friend of Cardigliano, she joined a
fledgling group called the Bua "and other popular songs to sing incominiciò not yet well known.

the opportunity to propose a third version of "U rusciu te lu mare", the pace even faster than the previous
year, with the addition of another verse, which concludes the story of two lovers. The verse said "U rusciu
lu te Mutu sea is strong, fija te lu ta king's death." The new final stanza took the place, who in turn became
the penultimate. (Translated from Italian to ENGLISH)

In some versions of this song is missing the first two verses and the song was best known of those years that
immediately succeeded in attracting the interest of many. It was quickly learned by those who attended
each night to show the sort of improvised from this close-knit group of friends.

It distinguished the Sardinians, master par excellence of Italian folk music. From what you told the
Sardinians were reluctant to introduce outsiders to their group, but the skill of the Florentine community of
some guys, so if you can call it, could not that lead them to choose. And between these guys remember
Bruno and Luigi Cardigliano plucked, for the extraordinary complementarily of their voices.

Lyrics - Italian

LU RUSCIU TE LU MARE (Gallipoli Lecce)

Nu giurnu scei 'ncaccia a li patuli
e 'ntisi na cranonchiula cantare.

A una a una le sentia cantare

ca me pariane lu rusciu te lu mare.

Lu rusciu te lu mare è troppu forte

la fija te lu re si ta la morte.

Iddha si ta la morte e jeu la vita

la fija te lu re sta se marita.

Iddha sta se marita e jeu me 'nzuru

la fija te li re porta nu fiuru.

Iddha porta nu fiuru e jeu na parma

la fija te lu re sta va 'lla Spagna.

Iddha sta va la Spagna e jeu 'n Turchia

la fija te lu re è a zita mia.

E vola vola vola vola vola

e vola vola vola palomba mia
ca jeu lu core meu te l'aggiu ddare
ca jeu lu core meu te l'aggiu ddare
English

THE ROAR OF THE SEA - LU RUSCIU TE LU MARE (LYRICS)

One night I was walking along the marsh
And I heard the frogs singing
And I heard the frogs singing
One by one I heard them singing
So that it sounded like the roar of the sea
So that it sounded like the roar of the sea

The roar of the sea is very loud

The king's daughter gives herself to death

She gives herself to death and I to life

The king's daughter is going to get married

She's going to be married and I'll be bridegroom

The king's daughter gives me a flower

She gives me a flower and I give her a palm-tree

The king's daughter is going to Spain

She's going to Spain and I'm to Turkey

The kings's daughter my sweetheart

And fly fly fly dove fly

And fly fly fly my dove
For I have got this heart
For I have got this heart to give you

The roar of the sea is very loud

The king's daughter gives herself to death
The king's daughter gives herself to death

The more I understand the allegorical value of the lyrics, the more I like this song. The song was made part
of a transcendental dance class I have been taking, under the instruction of Julia R, Zay, author of Ecstasia.

I was recently watching Elizabeth R, a series put out by the BBC in the
1970's. Elizabeth I, refers to the Duke she is betrothed to as, ' her little Frog'.
Initially he takes offense, and in response she calls him ignorant. She asks
that one of her advisers teach him the symbolism.

Sir Lester, explains to him that in Ancient Rome the frog, represented a love
token.
Ancient Greece and Rome
A frog being eaten by King Stork, an illustration by Milo Winter in a 1919 Aesop anthology

The Greeks and Romans associated frogs with fertility and harmony, and with licentiousness in association
with Aphrodite.[2]

* The combat between the Frogs and the Mice (Batrachomyomachia) was a mock epic, commonly
attributed to Homer.

* The Frogs Who Desired a King is a fable, attributed to Aesop. The Frogs prayed to Zeus asking for a
King. Zeus set up a log to be their monarch. The Frogs protested they wanted a fierce and terrible king, not
a mere figurehead. So Zeus sent them a Stork to be their king. The new king hunted and devoured his
subjects (as many human kings also do).

* The Frogs is a comic play by Aristophanes. The choir of frogs sings the famous line: "Brekekekex koax
koax."

(source: Cooper, JC (1992). Symbolic and Mythological Animals. London: Aquarian Press. pp. 106–08.
ISBN 1-85538-118-4.)

Source: Wikipedia

FROG: A symbol of fertility to many cultures. The Romans linked it to Aphrodite, the Egyptian to the
shape-shifting goddess Heket who would take the form of a frog. To the Chinese, it symbolized the moon --
"the lunar, yin principle" bringing healing and prosperity.[1] Since frogs need watery places, their image
was often used in occult rain charms.

[1] Source: A new classical dictionary of Greek and Roman biography, mythology, and geographical
By Sir William Smith

It makes sense, considering how often frogs show up in Greek/Roman plays, Fairy Tales (The Frog Prince),
Italian folk tales, and music.

I found a book, on Google books entitled:

The woman's encyclopedia of myths and secrets, By Barbara G. Walker

It lists frogs as a medieval totem of witches (questionable), and the author associates frogs with Hecate,
rather than Aphrodite. It goes on to say, that the Egyptians specifically used the frog to represent the human
fetus (tadpole), and amulets found made by the Egyptians in the shape of a frog read: "I Am the
Resurrection", spoken by Hecate. It is believed that this is where early Christians got the idea of using this
phraseology. It later goes on to read, that at a much later date the Romans did associate it with Venus, as
the Fleur de lis, represented the triple frog, as her yoni. Tailors of the time, were instructed to include 9
frogs on every garment, which dates back to the Ancient Babylonians. There was a cylinder seal found
containing 9 frogs, as a fertility charm, the 9-fold goddess to represent the 9 months of gestation of a
human child.

The source, E.M. Budge, is referenced for the source of this information for the book.

Frogs, are used in similar ways by different peoples around the world. It is believed that frogs are
connected to the waters in the womb, preparation for emerging, water magics, and the sounds frogs make
as 'thunder' symbolism. Rain/Thunder.

I've been collecting frogs for years, and have heard this symbolism but I hadn't read a scrap that it was
related to Rome, until recently.
So, when the frogs are singing in Lu Rusciu te lu Mare, it represents the love between the Turk and the
Spaniard yes, but also as a love charm itself.

The Frog talisman (Illustration No. 44, Plate IV-A) was highly esteemed, and is an attribute of Isis, being
worn to attract her favors and for fruitfulness. Because of its fertility its hieroglyphic meaning was an
immense number. It was also used as a symbol of Ptah, as it represented life in embryo, and by the growth
of its feet after birth it typified strength from weakness, and was worn for recovery from disease, also for
health and long life, taking the place sometimes of the Crux Ansata or Ankh, as a symbol of life.

Source: http://www.jstor.org/pss/4421766

Peru, 800 AD - modeled after the Babylonian model

Source:
http://www.maltergalleries.com/archives/auction99/nov799.htm

There are other 'frog weights' on this site from various cultures.
Frogs
An important member of Mythology and Folklore

Nov 11, 2006 Diana Tierney

It is somewhat surprising that the frog is so important to Mythology and Folklore. Being an amphibean
that transforms it is a symbol for birth, death and rebirth.

Frogs have held an important role in the mythologies of many civilizations. Most of these myths center
around the frog’s transformation from a tadpole to a frog. Many cultures saw this as a rebirth thus
associating them with creation myths and the land of the dead. The fact that some frogs can lay up to 3,000
eggs makes it no wonder that they have been associated with many fertility deities and creation itself.

In Egypt the frog is most commonly found associated with the goddess Heqet (or Heket) who was the
goddess of fertility and childbirth. Sometimes depicted as a frog or a woman with a frog head Heqet was
seen as protectress of childbirth. Her priestesses who were trained midwives wore amulets that bore her
image. It is theorized that the reason why the Egyptians saw frogs as being a symbol for childbirth and
creation was because during certain times of the year thousands of frogs would surface from the Nile
River. Thus creating the belief that this was an omen of fruitfulness. In the Greco-Roman tradition the frog
was a symbol of Aphrodite and Venus, along with fertility the frog came to represent harmony between
lovers.

Read more at Suite101: Frogs: An important member of Mythology and Folklore

http://www.suite101.com/content/frogs-a9027#ixzz1119uXOdf

I had this leather book custom made for me, and I've had for years but it only has (2) pages filled. A sketch
of a frog I drew, with a poem I wrote. I'm considering dedicating that book, to frog symbolism.

This is among my favorite frog dolls, that I own.

He is a collectors item, the chair alone was
$200.00, I received it as a gift many years ago.
There is a plethora of frog symbolism to be found from culture to culture.

The areas I have researched thus far are:

Japan, China, Greece, (Italy)Rome, Peru, Ancient Babylon, Maya, Egypt, Mojave Desert People (Native
Americans), Australia and Medieval Europe, just to name a few.

Frogs appear in allegorical artwork, mythology, cultural superstitions, and folk traditions.

Kings and queens, historic battles,

the trials of Noah, Jesus on the
cross, the birth of Venus, the fall
of Babylon, Latona turning the
Lycian peasants into frogs.
Johann, 1730

In Japan, the word for frog is 'kaeru', the word for return is also 'kaeru' and pronounced the same way,
though written differently to communicate which word is in use. Frogs in Japan, are linked to things or
people, returning to their place of origin. A frog, could be placed in the home so that money, friends, good
luck, and good things come back 'home'.

In China, frogs have been used to symbolize immortality, healing, money, the moon and frivolity. If
you've ever seen a 3 legged frog statue in a Chinese restaurant, this is traditionally liked to Daoist
principles. The frog, is seen as a 'magician' or escape artist. There is a reoccurring character in the stories
of a famous Daoist, Liu Hai, who is immortal and keeps a 3-legged toad named Ch'an Chu. The toad
knows the secret of immortality, and shares it with Liu Hai out of gratitude for his friendship. A legend
tells, that the secret to immortality is found in the fungus that grows on a frog's forehead. As a result, toads
and frogs are believed to have medicinal properties. Eating frog legs, is thought to cleanse the person, and
prolong life. They are called 'celestial chickens' by the Chinese. The moon association comes from the
eggs of frogs thought to float down from the moon, and be carried in the morning dew down stream. The
frog represents the Yin, or female force, which must be balanced by the Yang, or male force. If these
forces are out of balance, this is believed to cause strife among the Chinese people. Money and Frivolity,
are associated with spontaneity, and prosperity from following Daoist principles.

In the Native American cultures of the Southwest, images of frogs with wood in their mouth are common.
The Mojave people believed that frogs brought fire to humans.
In Australia, the Aborigines believed that frogs brought the rain, to help the plants grow. The 'thunder'
was believed to come from their croaking.

In Egypt, the frog was associated with the goddess Heqet/Heket, which means 'frog' in Egyptian. She was
typically depicted as a frog woman, an Egyptian with a frog-head, or a phallus with a frog at it's end to
indicate the association with fertility. She was considered to be wife of the Nile god Sobek. Midwives,
called themselves servants to Heqet, women wore Heqet's amulet during childbirth to assist in a successful
delivery. The amulet depicted Heqet sitting on a lotus flower, in her frog form. She was considered to be
the goddess of the last stages of birth, and for that reason she became known as wife to Chnum, who
formed the bodies of new children in his potter's wheel. After Aset was Romanized, to become 'Isis' it was
the goddess Heqet who breathed new life into Horus at birth. Horus, because associated with the
resurrection of Osiris, so Heqet became more closely associated with resurrection symbolism.

The Ancient Maya, Uo meant frog in

the Mayan language. And, Uo is a
month on the Mayan calendar.

This marked the rainy season. The tree- toad would find pools of water at the
beginning of this season, breeds, and makes loud croaking sounds. For this reason, this god is associated
with rain and agriculture. In 200 AD, during the dry seasons rituals were performed to pay homage to the
tree-frog god, to bring the rain, so that crops could
grow to feed the people.

Frogs in Exodus, as a plague

~ The Plague of Frogs

"The frogs will depart from you and your houses

and your servants and your people; they will be left
only in the Nile."
Frogs, as allegorical symbols have represented water, fertility, emotion, love, birth, resurrection, alchemy,
magic, shape-shifting, healing, purification, dream journeying, transformation, and even curses.

As the seasons change, so do the most prominent creatures in the forest. Some hibernate in the winter, and
emerge in the spring. Spring-time, is associated with fertility due to the emergence of new growth, and
thousands of species which lie dormant during the Fall/Winter months. When people wanted to enhance
their sexual magic, a frog was seen as a beneficial creature. Frogs kept in jars, or frog symbolism (statues,
tapestries, fetishes, dolls, etc.) present during sex, was thought to ensure conception. Many folk practices
emerged from the superstitions and legends about frogs. If a woman thought her husband to be unfaithful,
she would stick pins into a frog, and bury it. It was believed that her husband would be in extreme pain,
and would make his way back home to his wife for her care. She would dig up the frog, and remove the
pins, and this would make the pain disappear. He would stay faithful from that point on, most likely out of
fear, of what she could do. Hence, many of the legendary stories of 'harmful witches' in antiquity.

Fairy Tales:
The Frog-Prince, by the Brothers Grimm

Folk Lore:
Exploratorium, Frogs
http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/

Dream Symbolism:
The Dream Book, Betty Bethards

Greek Plays:
The Frogs, by Aristophanes

Stories:
The Hop-Frog, by Edgar Allan Poe

Superstitions:
The History & Use of Amulets, Charms and Talismans, by Gary R. Varner

Forum Discussion:
Paganspace.net
http://www.paganspace.net/forum/topics/the-allegorical-value-of-frogs

SIN JONES
The Poison Apple
www.the poison-apple.com
September 2010