European dragon


Saint George versus the dragon

In European mythology, a dragon is a serpent-like creature. It is sometimes known by the Nordic word, wyrm.

Table of contents
1 Dragons in modern times
2 Dragons in Slavic mythology
3 Dragons in Celtic mythology
4 Dragons in Germanic mythology
5 Dragons in Norse mythology
6 External links

Dragons in modern times

The dragon of the modern period is typically depicted as a large, winged dinosaur-like creature with the ability to breathe fire. It typically protects a cavern of gold and is usually associated with a great hero who attempts to slay it. Many modern stories represent dragons as being extremely intelligent creatures, some with the ability to use magic. Often they are extremely ancient. Some are helpful and wise whom heroes can consult for advice, while others are greedy and guard a huge hoard of treasure. (Until we get a more detailed discussion, please see http://www.draconian.com/whatis/whatis.htm .)

Dragons in Slavic mythology

Dragons of Slavic mythology hold mixed temperaments towards humans.

needs work

Dragons in Celtic mythology

needs work
The story of Merlin and the dragons

Dragons in Germanic mythology

The two most famous dragons from the mythology of the Germanic peoples are the dragon of Beowulf, and Fafnir, who was killed by Siegfried. Fafnir turned into a dragon because of his greed -- many scholars believe this and other stories indicate dragons usually represent greed in western cultures. In both Fafnir and Beowulf, the serpents guarded earthen mounds full of ancient treasure. The treasure was cursed and brought ill to those who later possessed it. It has been supposed by some scholars, including John Tanke of the University of Michigan, that the word dragon comes from the Old English draugr, which literally means a spirit who guards the burial mound of a king. How this image of a vengeful guardian spirit is related to a fire breathing serpent is unclear. Many others assume the word dragon comes from the ancient Greek word derekesthai, meaning 'sharp eyed', referring to the dragon's legendarily keen eyesight. But, in any case, the image of a dragon as a serpent-like creature was already standard at least by the 8th century when Beowulf was written down. Although today we associate dragons almost universally with fire, in medieval legend the creatures were often associated with water, guarding springs or living near or under water.

Other European legends about dragons include "Saint George and the Dragon", in which a brave knight defeats a dragon holding a princess captive. This legend may be a Christianized version of the myth of Perseus, but its origins are obscure. (The Revelation of Saint John the Divine describes Satan as "a great dragon, flaming red, with seven heads and ten horns.") Saint George is the Patron Saint of England. Meanwhile, across the border, a red dragon is represented on the Welsh flag. Due to this clash of symbolism, there are very few George and the Dragon pubs in Wales.

The tale of George and the Dragon has been modified for modern works, with Saint George portrayed as 'an effette [sic] wally who faints at the sight of the dragon' in a play [1] and a poem by U. A. Fanthorpe based on Uccello's painting, where Saint George is a thug, the Maiden considers the relative sexual merits of the dragon and saint, and the Dragon the only sane character.

It is possible that the dragon legends of north-western Europe are at least partly inspired by earlier stories from the Roman Empire, or from the Sarmatians and related cultures north of the Black Sea. There has also been speculation that dragon mythology might have originated from stories of large land lizards which inhabited Eurasia.

Dragons in Norse mythology

The most famous dragons by Norse mythology, is Jormungand a form of cobra, so big that the earth-disc can be encircled by it.


Fantasy fiction authors whose works have featured dragons as major plot elements include:


Compare: Chinese dragon

See also: List of dragons

External links



In the News

Long-sought Maya City -- Site Q -- found in Guatemala
A team of scientists including Marcello Canuto, assistant professor of anthropology at Yale, has found incontrovertible proof of Site Q, a long-speculated Mayan city, during a mission to the northwest Peten region of Guatemala.

Sensor Web Simulation Investigates Technique To Improve Prediction Of
For asthmatics and for anyone with respiratory problems, air pollution can significantly impair simple everyday activities. NASA is trying to tie together satellites and stations on the ground to develop a "sensor web"to track this pollution and improve air quality forecasts.

Lung-sparing Treatment For Cancer Proving Effective
Indiana University School of Medicine researchers report that patients with early stage non-small cell lung cancer responded well to high doses of radiation administered through extracranial stereotactic body radiation therapy, a lung-sparing procedure.

Dying DRM Means More Freedom for Music Fans
In a DRM-free environment, software developers that have wasted time trying to lock down audio files will undoubtedly create the fabled celestial jukebox that lets users listen to their music whenever, and wherever, they want.

Four Brains Are Better Than One
Chip maker Intel has announced that it's shipping the new Core 2 Extrememicroprocessor in time for the holiday season. Whether you need a quad corechip to run Sims 2 is your call. In Monkey Bites.

Bizarre Galaxy Is Result Of Pair Of Spiral Galaxies Smashing Together
A recent NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image captures what appears to be one very bright and bizarre galaxy, but is actually the result of a pair of spiral galaxies that resemble our own Milky Way smashing together at breakneck speeds. The product of this dramatic collision, called NGC 2623, or Arp 243, is about 250 million light-years away in the constellation of Cancer.

fMRIs reveal brain's handling of low-priority ideas
Brain networks that allow individuals to put social decisions on the back burner are impacted by genetics, a new study indicates. This capability has been shown to be abnormal in a number of psychiatric disorders.

Does Treating Worms In People With HIV Slow Progression To AIDS?
There is evidence that co-infection of Helminth worms may result in a more rapid progression of HIV infection to AIDS. Does treating these worms ("de-worming") slow down this progression? In a new study researchers set out to answer this question. The study found that there were simply not enough data to make any firm conclusions, and they call for larger, well-designed studies to help come to a definitive answer.

[Sad] Elizabeth Edwards Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of former Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, a campaign spokesman said on Thursday.

A touch of magic reveals secrets of glass
A clearer understanding of glassy materials is possible with a magic spin.




MP3 Music Downloads

Preview songs, Download Free Music,Burn CDs at ITunes.com
iTunes_RGB_9mm

 


Google




InformationQuickFind.com - Find Information Fast

Links | Privacy Policy | News |