Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature that appears in the folklore and myths of various cultures worldwide, characterized by its reptilian or serpent-like features, often with wings. In Eastern traditions, dragons are typically revered as symbols of wisdom and good fortune, embodying nature's spirits responsible for weather and water. Notably, the Chinese dragon has multiple forms, each associated with different elemental powers and attributes. Conversely, Western cultures often depict dragons as fire-breathing adversaries, symbolizing evil and chaos, with legendary tales of heroes like Saint George and Beowulf showcasing their battles against these formidable foes.
The term "dragon" is derived from the Greek word "draconta," meaning "to watch," and the concept of dragons is found in ancient texts such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Bible. The recurring imagery of dragons across diverse societies has led to various origin theories, including the influence of fossil discoveries or encounters with large animals. In contemporary culture, dragons continue to be prominent figures in literature and media, exemplified by characters like Smaug from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" and the dragons in popular franchises like "Game of Thrones" and "How to Train Your Dragon."
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature that appears in the myths and folklore of cultures throughout the world. A dragon's physical characteristics vary depending on its place of origin, but most dragons have reptilian or serpent-like features and wings. In eastern cultures, dragons are symbols of wisdom and good fortune, but in western cultures, they are depicted as fire-breathing incarnations of evil. Dragons have long captured the human imagination, appearing in some of the world's oldest stories to modern depictions in film and literature.
Ancient References and Types of Dragons
The word dragon is derived from the Greek word draconta, meaning "to watch," which evolved into the Latin word dracon, or "serpent." The origin of the dragon in myth is unknown, but mention of a bird-like dragon named Anzu can be found in the Mesopotamian poem The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest known works of literature dating back to about 2000 B.C.E. The ancient Egyptians developed the image of a serpent-like beast consuming its own tail, a symbol of the cyclical nature of life that the Greeks would later call ouroboros. References to dragons are also found in the Bible. The Book of Job mentions the fire-breathing, sea serpent Leviathan and a powerful creature named Behemoth, which some scholars see as a dragon-like beast.
Stories of dragons are part of many cultures and can be found on every inhabited continent on Earth. In eastern nations, dragons such as the Chinese dragon are revered as benevolent guardians and symbols of divine wisdom. The Chinese dragon can take on many forms but is most often depicted as a snake-like creature with parts of other animals, such as the horns of a deer, the claws of an eagle, the scales of a fish, and the eyes of a demon. According to Chinese myths, these dragons are spirits of nature that control the rain, rivers, lakes, and sea:
Celestial dragon: the ruler of all dragons; in charge of protecting the heavens.
Spiritual dragon: controls the wind and rain and needs to be appeased to ensure good weather.
Earth dragon: controls the rivers.
Underworld dragon: theguardian of precious metals and jewels. Underworld dragons are said to create volcanoes when they emerge from the ground.
Horned dragon: the mightiest of all dragons.
Winged dragon: the oldest of the eastern dragons and the only one with wings.
Coiling dragon: a dragon that resides in the ocean.
Yellow dragon: the dragon of knowledge, credited with introducing writing to the mythological first emperor of China.
The dragon kings: Four dragons that rule over the four seas.
In western cultures, dragons are generally depicted as reptilian-like forces of evil that can fly, breathe fire, and terrorize the countryside or guard mountains of treasure. These dragons are symbols of battle and are often portrayed as vicious foes that legendary heroes must vanquish. The Old English epic Beowulf, written between 700 and 1000 C.E., tells of the titular hero defeating a rampaging dragon, only to die from his wounds after the battle. Norse tales describe the dragon Fafnir, the greedy son of a magician turned into a creature by his lust for riches. Fafnir retreated to a cave where he collected and horded a vast treasure, killing anyone foolish enough to face him. Finally, the hero Sigurd took up the challenge, outwitting the beast and slaying him.
The medieval church used the image of valiant knights defeating evil dragons as a symbol of Christianity's victory over Satan and pagan beliefs. One of the best-known of these stories is the legend of Saint George and the Dragon. George was a knight who came upon a town terrorized by a fearsome dragon. To keep the dragon from destroying their village, the people would sacrifice young girls to the beast. George agreed to battle the dragon and, protected with the sign of the cross, killed the monster and rescued a young maiden. In return, the grateful townspeople converted to Christianity.
Other incarnations of western dragons include the wyvern, a two-legged flying dragon that breathes poison; the cockatrice, a bird-like beast that can turn its victims into stone; and the basilisk, a fearsome dragon that kills with its gaze.
Origin Theories and Modern Depictions
Images of dragons can also be found in Mesoamerican legends of the winged Atzec serpent Quetzalcoatl and the multi-headed Japanese dragon Yamata no Orochi. Several theories exist as to why the dragon motif occurs in such seemingly unconnected cultures around the globe. One is that the myths arose from early discoveries of dinosaur fossils. Unaware of the true nature of fossils, ancient humans may have seen them as evidence of the existence of giant living beasts. Other theories claim the image of dragons may come from encounters with real-life animals, such as crocodiles, elephants, or whales. Some researchers believe the dragon is a creation of evolution and a part of humanity's collective memory. Early humans' instinctual fear of large predators may have been passed on to future generations and manifested itself in the common dragon myth.
No matter where the concept originated from, dragons have been a recurring image throughout human history. In modern times, they continue to be a force in popular culture. Author J.R.R. Tolkien built upon Norse mythology to create the treasure-hording, fire-breathing dragon Smaug in his 1937 novel, The Hobbit. The iconic tale of the fair maiden rescued from a dragon by a brave knight—referenced in films like 1981's Dragonslayer and 2001's Shrek—can trace its lineage to the legend of Saint George. Dragons also play a prominent role in the fantasy television series Game of Thrones and the animated movie series How to Train Your Dragon.
Bibliography
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Stromberg, Joseph. "Where Did Dragons Come From?" Smithsonian.com. Smithsonian Institution. Web. 20 Dec. 2015. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/where-did-dragons-come-from-23969126/?no-ist
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