In this episode of Legends of Asbestos, attorney Justinian Lane explores Marco Polo’s account of fireproof asbestos cloth in 13th-century China. Often connected to the old “salamander skin” legend, this strange woven material was not mythical at all—it was asbestos made from mineral fibers. Justinian explains what Marco Polo saw, how the legend developed, and why this story became part of the long history of asbestos use. This video offers a clear look at asbestos history, ancient fireproof cloth, and one of the most famous legends surrounding the mineral.
Learn more at asbestosclaims.law/
Read more on this
Talk with an asbestos lawyer
If something in this video sounds like your family's story, start with what you remember, and we'll take it from there.
More from Asbestos before the modern industry
- Ancient Greece’s Eternal Flame: The Asbestos Legend Asbestos before the modern industry
- Did Pliny the Elder Think Asbestos Was a Plant? Asbestos before the modern industry
- The Asbestos Funeral Cloth That Survived Mount Vesuvius Asbestos before the modern industry
- Did Charlemagne Use an Asbestos Tablecloth? Asbestos before the modern industry
- The Fireproof Asbestos Napkin That Fooled Europe’s Elite Asbestos before the modern industry
- Benjamin Franklin’s Asbestos Purse: The Strange True Story Asbestos before the modern industry
This page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Every asbestos case turns on its own facts, exposure history, diagnosis, deadlines, available evidence, and applicable law. Reviewing this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, call 833-4-ASBESTOS for a free case review.