What a pottery firing devil is? That’s the spirit who protects the ceramic kiln from dark influences. It’s the protector of pots who are about to endure the hellish fire.

Why do I need one? Well, I can explain that to you. But let me begin with a potter’s prayer from almost 3,000 years ago to Athena, goddess of crafts:

“Grant that the potters may get great gain and grant me so to sing to them.

But if you become shameless and make false promises, then I call together the destroyers of kilns, Syntribos (Shatter) and Smaragos (Smash) and Asbetos (Char) and Sabaktes (Collapse) and Omodamos (Melt) who can bring this craft much mischief.”

_{From: Homer’s Epigrams, Fragment 14 (Greek epic, 8th or 7th century BC)}

Threatened by the five devils of pottery disaster, I had no choice but to take protective measures. It’s about time I made my own ceramic firing devil.