A fire dog (also firedog) is a device of metal or ceramic intended to hold logs above the hearth (and so improving air circulation for faster burning), or to hold skewers above the fire for cooking.

Ancient Greek firedogs for cooking meat - 2200-2000BCE

"Fire dogs", dating to the 11th to 9th c. BC, found in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, kept at the Swiss National Museum.

Firedog, also moon idol or moon horn (German Mondhorn), is a term used to refer to an artifact type of late Bronze Age Europe (ca. 1300 to 800 BC), typically made of clay, found in the area of modern France, Switzerland and Germany, associated with the Urnfield culture.

In some cases these are apparently a cult item of Early European Religion, resembling a pair of horns or crescent moons on a pedestal, and was variously interpreted as testifying to Bull worship, Moon worship, or as a holder for wooden logs to be used in a fire altar.

Literature

• Babes, M. und Mihailescu-Bîrliba, V.: Germanische latènezeitliche "Feuerböcke" aus der Moldau 1971
• Mondhörner - Urgeschichtliche Messgeräte in Helvetica Archäologica 32/2001
• Derungs K.: Geheimnisvolles Zürich ISBN 3-905581-22-1
• Steuer, H.: Germanische "Feuerböcke" aus dem Hannoverschen Wendland, Arch. Korrespondenzbl. 3, 1973

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Fire dog". Image Credit.

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