Editing Cauldron (section)

== Symbolism and mythology ==
[[File:Europe a Prophecy copy K plate 07.jpg|thumb|250px| A cauldron over a fire in [[William Blake]]'s illustrations to his mythical ''[[Europe a Prophecy]]'' first published in 1794. This version of the print is currently held by the [[Fitzwilliam Museum]]]]
Cauldrons have largely fallen out of use in the [[developed world]] as cooking vessels. While still used for practical purposes, a more common association in [[Western culture]] is the cauldron's use in [[witchcraft]]—a ''[[cliché]]'' popularized by various works of [[fiction]], such as [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Macbeth]]''. In fiction, witches often prepare their [[potions]] in a cauldron. Also, in [[Irish folklore]], a cauldron is purported to be where [[leprechaun]]s keep their gold and [[treasure]].

In some forms of [[Wicca]], appropriating aspects of [[Celtic mythology]], the cauldron is associated with the goddess [[Cerridwen]]. [[Mythology of Wales|Welsh legend]] also tells of cauldrons that were useful to warring armies. In the second branch of the [[Mabinogion|Mabinogi]] in the tale of ''Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr'', the [[Pair Dadeni]] (Cauldron of Rebirth) is a magical cauldron in which dead warriors could be placed and then be returned to life, save that they lacked the power of speech.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales |publisher=University of Wales Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7083-1953-6 |editor1-last=Davies |editor1-first=John |editor1-link=John Davies (historian) |location=Cardiff |page=129 |editor2-last=Jenkins |editor2-first=Nigel |editor2-link=Nigel Jenkins |editor3-last=Menna |editor3-first=Baines |editor4-last=Lynch |editor4-first=Peredur I.}}</ref> It was suspected that they lacked souls. These warriors could go back into battle until they were killed again. In Wicca and some other forms of neopagan or pagan belief systems, the cauldron is still used in magical practices. Most often a cauldron is made of cast iron and is used to burn loose incense on a charcoal disc, to make black salt (used in banishing rituals), for mixing herbs, or to burn petitions (paper with words of power or wishes written on them). Cauldrons symbolize not only the Goddess but also represent the womb (because it holds something) and on an altar, it represents earth because it is a working tool. Cauldrons are often sold in [[New Age]] or "metaphysical" stores and may have various symbols of power inscribed on them.

[[File:Sheet bronze cauldron british museum.JPG|thumb|A [[Bronze Age]] cauldron, and [[flesh-hook]], made from sheet [[bronze]]]]

The [[Holy Grail]] of [[Arthurian legend]] is sometimes referred to as a "cauldron", although traditionally the grail is thought of as a hand-held cup rather than the large pot that the word "cauldron" usually is used to mean. This may have resulted from the combination of the grail legend with earlier Celtic myths of magical cauldrons.

The common translation for [[ding (vessel)|ding]] is often referred to as a cauldron. In Chinese history and culture, possession of one or more ancient dings is often associated with power and dominion over the land. Therefore, the ding is often used as an implicit symbolism for power. The term "inquiring of the ding" (Chinese: 问鼎; pinyin: wèn dǐng) is often used to symbolize the use of divination or for the quest for power. One example of the ding cauldron and gaining power over the traditional provinces of China is the [[Nine Tripod Cauldrons]] (whether regarded as myth or history).

Archeologically intact actual cauldrons with apparent cultural symbolism include:
* the [[Gundestrup cauldron]], made in the 2nd or 1st century BC, found at Gundestrup, Denmark
* a [[Bronze Age]] cauldron found at [[Hassle]], [[Sweden]]
* [[Art of Urartu#Boiler decorations|Ceremonial cauldrons]] from the ancient Armenian state of Urartu
* the cauldron where the [[Olympic Flame]] burns for the duration of the [[Olympic Games]]

Cauldrons known only through myth and literature include:
* [[Dagda's Cauldron]]
* [[The Cauldron of Dyrnwch the Giant]]
* [[Pair Dadeni]]
* Cauldron of [[Hymir]]