The men of old were born like wild beasts, in woods, caves, and groves, and lived on savage fare. As time went on, the thickly crowded trees in a certain place, tossed by storms and winds, and rubbing their branches against one another, caught fire, being terrified of the flames. After it subsided, they drew near, and observing that they were comfortable standing before a warm fire, they put logs on and while keeping it alive, brought other people to it, showing them by signs how much comfort they got from it… Therefore it was the discovery of fire that originally gave rise to the coming together of men, to the deliberative assembly, and to social intercourse.