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A dragon is a magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but dragons in Western cultures since the High Middle Ages have often been depicted as winged, horned, and capable of breathing fire.
Jan 4, 2023 · Dragons hold a special place in the world of mythical beasts. They started out as snakes, then evolved into fire-breathing, flying monsters that both terrorize and charm us. But where did the idea for dragons come from in the first place? How did these magnificent creatures squirm and soar their way into our imaginations and mythology?
Feb 10, 2024 · The Chinese word "lóng", or 龍, is usually translated into English as "dragon". But don't let the connection mislead you: lucky, ethereal Chinese dragons are very different beasts to the...
- Ancient Mesopotamian Dragon Myths
- Dragons in The Lands of Persia
- Ancient Egyptian Dragon God
- The Chinese Dragon
- Dragons in Japan and Korea
- Dragons on The Indian Subcontinent
- Southeast Asian Dragon Myths
- European Dragons
- Dragons Among The Indigenous Tribes
- The Feathered Serpent
Tales of dragons, as we recognize them, first appear in the mythology of ancient Mesopotamia. Turn back the clock to the 2nd millennium BC and a mythological creature called the Mušḫuššu, or fierce snake, appears in written texts. The Mušḫuššu emerges throughout Sumerian and Babylonian mythology and is described as serpent-like, covered in scales, ...
Dragons also appear in the literature and mythology of ancient Persia, particularly in the form of the Azhdahas – evil figures depicted as giant snakes or winged lizards. Zahhāk, also known as Zahhāk the Snake Shoulder, is one such figure in Persian mythology, also described in ancient Persian folklore, such as the Avesta,as Azhi Dahāka. Meanwhile,...
Ancient Egyptian stories also host mythological dragons like the giant serpent deity Apep, or Apophis, who was viewed as the god of chaos and the adversary of light. Apep was the nemesis of Ra, the Sun god, and his roots can be traced back to as early as 4000 BC.
The Chinese dragon is revered in its culture. The dragon has long symbolized power and good luck, as well as portending influence over the weather, not unlike in other cultures. It is widely viewed as a spiritual and harmonious symbol in Chinese mythology. For example, the Chinese Emperor often used the dragon to showcase his power. The earliest pr...
Dragons are legendary figures in Japanese folklore and mythology.Their origin is a mix of native legends and myths imported from other Asian cultures, particularly China. A handful of indigenous dragon stories in Japan, such as the Kojiki and Nihongi, emerged in the late 7th century AD. Chinese dragons greatly influenced the appearance of Japanese ...
The Mahabharata epic is a significant text in Hindu mythology, and it introduces the concept of nagas or serpent beings. The epic describes the nagas as a semi-divine race with the power to assume human or serpent forms. Naga kings, including Shesha, Vasuki, Takshaka, and princess Ulupi, are all depicted in the epic. They are often associated with ...
In Philippine mythology, the Bakunawa is a dragon-like serpent creature. It is believed to bring about natural phenomena such as eclipses, earthquakes, rain, and wind. The Bakunawa is usually depicted as having a looped tail and a single horn. It was generally considered a sea serpent but was also thought to inhabit either the sky or the underworld...
Dragons play a significant role in ancient Greek mythology, depicting them as large snakes with the ability to spit or breathe poison. The word “dragon” is derived from the Greek word “drakōn,” which has its roots in the Latin word “draco,” meaning a large, constricting snake. The ancient Greeks wrote of several serpent like creatures including Typ...
Across the Atlantic, dragons also appear in the cultures of many Indigenous tribes throughout the Americas. The Illini people painted murals of the Piasa Bird in the Mississippi River area, a winged dragon figure. Its presence isn’t quite understood, however, some believe it originates with the much larger Mississippian culture of Cahokia. Elsewher...
Further south, among the civilizations of the Aztecs and Maya, the depiction of the Feathered Serpent is just about everywhere. First worshipped at Teotihuacan in the 1st century BC, the deity was originally depicted as an actual snake, however, over time this morphed into a figure also bearing human-like characteristics. The Yucatec Maya worshippe...
6 days ago · dragon, in the mythologies, legends, and folktales of various cultures, a large lizard- or serpent-like creature, conceived in some traditions as evil and in others as beneficent. In medieval Europe, dragons were usually depicted with wings and a barbed tail and as breathing fire.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- The term dragon has no zoological meaning, but it is used in the Latin generic name Draco for several small lizard species found in the Indo-Malaya...
- The English word dragon comes from the Greek word drakōn, which was used originally for any large serpent, and the dragon of mythology, whatever sh...
- In Asian cultures, the dragon managed to retain its prestige and is known as a beneficent creature. The Chinese dragon, the lung, represents yang,...
- A dragon is usually represented as a huge, bat-winged, fire-breathing, scaly lizard or snake with a barbed tail. The belief in these creatures appa...
Jul 29, 2024 · Dragons are considered to be the guardians of the four directions and play an important role in Chinese art, literature, and philosophy. The dragon is also a significant figure in Japanese and Korean mythology, where it is often associated with water and rain.
Jan 23, 2012 · Scholars say that belief in dragons probably evolved independently in both Europe and China, and perhaps in the Americas and Australia as well. How could this happen?
