<P> The story appears to be based in part on a folk legend explaining a geographic feature . </P> <P> A pillar of salt named "Lot's wife" is located near the Dead Sea at Mount Sodom in Israel . The Mishnah states that a blessing should be said at the place where the pillar of salt is . Other pillars are said to be at the crossing of the Red Sea as well as at the Wall of Jericho . </P> <P> The Jewish historian Josephus claimed to have seen the pillar of salt which was Lot's wife . Its existence is also attested to by the early church fathers Clement of Rome and Irenaeus . </P> <P> In Judaism, one common view of Lot's wife turning to salt was as punishment for disobeying the angels' warning . By looking back at the "evil cities" she betrayed her secret longing for that way of life . She was deemed unworthy to be saved and thus turned to a pillar of salt . </P>

What does it mean to become a pillar of salt