In Alchemical tradition, salamanders are the elemental spirits of fire. The salamander is not a literal salamander, but simply the form in which the elemental appears. The salamander was first proposed by alchemical philosopher Paracelsus.

A Salamander

"In all fables we are told
That the Salamander is born in the fire;
In the fire it has that food and life
Which Nature herself has assigned to it.
It dwells in a great mountain
Which is encompassed by many flames,
And one of these is ever smaller than another -
Herein the Salamander bathes. "
~The Book of Lambspring

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