For centuries the mythical creature of the dragon has appeared in stories, legends, and tales of all kinds. Dragons take on different physical characteristics and meanings depending on the culture of the country. In countless traditional legends readers can find fearsome, terrifying dragons that breathe fire. Alternatively, in the children's stories and movies of today plenty of friendly, talking dragons can be found. Since its first appearance, the figure of the dragon has taken on many forms.
- Dragons and Their Origins
- The Bird's Role in the Origins of Dragons
- The Dragon in Chinese Culture
- The Story Behind the Ethiopian Dragon
- Animal Planet: Evolution of the Dragon
From the East to the West, dragons appear in the mythology of almost every country's culture. Dragons are threats to humans in some stories and protective creatures in others. They can be large or small and display a variety of physical traits including wings, forked tongues, several heads, and long sweeping tails. Though the form and meaning of dragons vary from culture to culture, the creature holds a common place in stories and legends.
In the realm of heraldry a person will find an abundance of dragons. The dragon is a familiar figure whether it is found in a story of a knight's battle or etched onto a shield. In fact, the image of a dragon on a shield was not simply there as decoration. Many times the type of dragon on a knight's shield revealed to his enemies the type of warrior they were dealing with.
Dragons can also be found in the area of religion. They appear in stories and can be symbolic figures as well. Dragons can symbolize the various capacities and attributes of human beings.
- The Meanings of Dragons in Heraldry
- The Background of Western Dragons
- Buddhism and the Significance of the Dragon
- St. George and the Dragon
- Bible Dragons
The subjects of science and alchemy have also made use of the figure of the dragon. For instance, the dragon's image has been employed to represent the continuing process of life and death in nature.
Famous Dragons in Literature and Film
Dragons in the Literature of J.R.R. Tolkien: Features descriptions of dragons that appear in Tolkien's work. Some of the dragons include Smaug from The Hobbit and Glaurung whose personal title was, "The Father of Dragons."
Beowulf's Dragon: The story of Beowulf contains a ferocious dragon that the story's hero must fight to the death.
Falkor-the Dragon in the Never Ending Story: Learn about a dragon named Falkor and his role in the movie the Never Ending Story.
Ancalagon: A history of the dragon named Ancalagon found in J.R.R. Tolkien's, The Simarillion.
A Look at Pete's Dragon: Learn more about the movie Pete's Dragon that stars a friendly, protective dragon named Elliot.
A Dragon Named Vermithrax Pejorative: Discover more about the secrets behind the creation of dragon Vermithrax Pejorative for the movie The Dragonslayer.
Draco the Dragon in Dragonheart: Read about a dragon named Draco and his part in a classic film called Dragonheart.
Real Life Dragons
Bearded Dragon: These Australian climbing lizards live in rocky environments and survive by eating a variety of insects and plant life.
Dragon flower: A flower found in the area of the Mediterranean that features a dark colored growth in the shape of a spike. The growth looks like the tongue of a dragon, earning the flower its name.
Dragonfly: This harmless, colorful insect is found around watery areas, eats insects such as gnats, and can fly approximately forty miles per hour.
Komodo Dragon: A very large, carnivorous lizard with an acute sense of smell that is thought to have a life span of about thirty years.
Snap Dragon: Flowers with a subtle fragrance and brightly colored blossoms that are found in the colors of red, white, purple, or yellow. Some say that a snap dragon's delicate blossoms resemble the mouth of a dragon.