Dragon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

戈兰

The dragon is a mythical creature typically depicted as a gigantic and powerful serpent or other reptile with magical or spiritual qualities.

Contents [hide]
1 Overview
2 Symbolism
2.1 In Christianity
2.2 Chinese zodiac
2.3 In East Asia
3 Speculation on the origins of dragons
4 Dragons in world mythology
5 Notable dragons
5.1 In myth
5.2 In literature and fiction
5.3 As emblems
6 See also
7 Further reading
8 Notes
9 References
10 External links



[edit] Overview

Engraving of Ouroboros (a dragon swallowing its own tail) by Lucas Jennis, in alchemical tract titled De Lapide Philisophico.
Dragon. Moche Culture 100 A.D. Larco Museum Lima, PeruAs with every Mythological creature, they are percived in ways that alternate between different cultures. Dragons are commonly portrayed as serpentine or reptilian, hatching from eggs and possessing extremely large, typically scaly, bodies; they are sometimes portrayed as having large eyes, a feature that is the origin for the word for dragon in many cultures, and are often (but not always) portrayed with wings and a fiery breath. Some dragons do not have wings at all, but look more like long snakes. Dragons can have a variable number of legs: none, two, four, or more when it comes to early European literature. Modern depictions of dragons are very large in size, but some early European depictions of dragons were only the size of bears, or, in some cases, even smaller, around the size of a butterfly.

Although dragons (or dragon-like creatures) occur in many legends around the world, different cultures have varying stories about monsters that have been grouped together under the dragon label. Chinese dragons (Simplified Chinese: 龙; Traditional Chinese: 龍; Pinyin: lóng), and Eastern dragons generally, are usually seen as benevolent, whereas European dragons are usually malevolent (there are of course exceptions to these rules). Malevolent dragons also occur in Persian mythology (see Azhi Dahaka) and other cultures.

Dragons are particularly popular in China. Along with the phoenix, the dragon was a symbol of the Chinese emperors. Dragon costumes manipulated by several people are a common sight at Chinese festivals.

Dragons are often held to have major spiritual significance in various religions and cultures around the world. In many Eastern and Native American cultures dragons were, and in some cultures still are, revered as representative of the primal forces of nature and the universe. Many pre-Columbian cultures were fascinated by the power of dragons. The Moche people dipicted dragons frequently in their ceramics. [1] They are associated with wisdom—often said to be wiser than humans—and longevity. They are commonly said to possess some form of magic or other supernormal power, and are often associated with wells, rain, and rivers. In some cultures, they are said to be capable of human speech.

The term dragoon, for infantry that move around by horse yet still fight as foot soldiers, is derived from their early firearm, the "dragon", a wide-bore musket that spat flame when it fired, and was thus named for the mythical creature.


[edit] Symbolism

Dragon waterspout on Ulm Cathedral
Dobrynya Nikitich slaying Zmey Gorynych, by Ivan BilibinIn medieval symbolism, dragons were often symbolic of apostasy and treachery, but also of anger and envy, and eventually symbolized great calamity. Several heads were symbolic of decadence and oppression, and also of heresy. They also served as symbols for independence, leadership and strength. Many dragons also represent wisdom; slaying a dragon not only gave access to its treasure hoard, but meant the hero had bested the most cunning of all creatures. In some cultures, especially Chinese, or around the Himalayas, dragons are considered to represent good luck. Dragons are depicted in medieval symbolism to be the size of a bear or smaller. Most dragons posses magical abilities.

Joseph Campbell in the The Power of Myth viewed the dragon as a symbol of divinity or transcendence, arguing that it represents the unity of Heaven and Earth by combining the serpent form (earthbound) with the bat/bird form (airborne).

Yet another symbolic view of dragons is the Ouroborus, or the dragon encircling and eating its own tail. When shaped like this the dragon becomes a symbol of eternity, natural cycles, and completion.


[edit] In Christianity

Pope Sylvester I portrayed slaying a dragon and resurrecting its victimsThe Latin word for a dragon, draco (genitive: draconis), actually means snake or serpent, emphasizing the European association of dragons with snakes, not lizards or dinosaurs as they are commonly associated with today. The Medieval Biblical interpretation of the Devil being associated with the serpent who tempted Adam and Eve, thus gave a snake-like dragon connotations of evil. Generally speaking, Biblical literature itself did not portray this association (save for the Book of Revelation, whose treatment of dragons is detailed below). The demonic opponents of God, Christ, or good Christians have commonly been portrayed as reptilian or chimeric.

In the Book of Job Chapter 41, there are references to a sea monster Leviathan, which has some dragon-like characteristics.

In Revelation 12:3, an enormous red beast with seven heads is described, whose tail sweeps one third of the stars from heaven down to earth (held to be symbolic of the fall of the angels, though not commonly held among biblical scholars). In most translations, the word "dragon" is used to describe the beast, since in the original Greek the word used is drakon (δράκον).

In iconography, some Catholic saints are depicted in the act of killing a dragon. This is one of the common aspects of Saint George in Egyptian Coptic iconography,[2] on the coat of arms of Moscow, and in English and Catalan legend. In Italy, Saint Mercurialis, first bishop of the city of Forlì, is also depicted slaying a dragon.[3] Saint Julian of Le Mans, Saint Veran, Saint Bienheuré, Saint Crescentinus, and Saint Leonard of Noblac were also venerated as dragon-slayers. In Medieval and Renaissance artworks, Saint Matthew, Saint Martha, Saint Sylvester, Saint Margaret, and Saint Philip the Apostle are all depicted as overcoming dragons.[4]


[edit] Chinese zodiac

"Nine Dragons" handscroll section, by Chen Rong, 1244 AD, Chinese Song Dynasty, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.The years 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036, 2048, 2060 etc. (every 12 years — 8 AD) are considered the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac.

The Chinese zodiac purports that people born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. They are also supposedly honest, sensitive, brave, and inspire confidence and trust. The Chinese zodiac purports that people whose zodiac sign is the dragon are the most eccentric of any in the eastern zodiac. They supposedly neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but tend to be soft-hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are purported to be compatible with people whose zodiac sign is of the rat, snake, monkey, and rooster.


[edit] In East Asia
Main articles: Chinese dragon and Japanese dragon
Dragons are commonly symbols of good luck or health in some parts of Asia, and are also sometimes worshipped. Asian dragons are considered as mythical rulers of weather, specifically rain and water, and are usually depicted as the guardians of pearls.

In China, as well as in Japan and Korea, the Azure Dragon is one of the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellation, representing spring, the element of Wood and the east. Chinese dragons are often shown with large pearls in their grasp, though some say that it is really the dragon's egg. The Chinese believed that the dragons lived underwater most of the time, and would sometimes offer rice as a gift to the dragons. The dragons were not shown with wings like the European dragons because it was believed they could fly using magic.

A Yellow dragon (Huang long) with five claws on each foot, on the other hand, represents the change of seasons, the element of Earth (the Chinese 'fifth element') and the center. Furthermore, it symbolizes imperial authority in China, and indirectly the Chinese people as well. Chinese people often use the term "Descendants of the Dragon" as a sign of ethnic identity. The dragon is also the symbol of royalty in Bhutan (whose sovereign is known as Druk Gyalpo, or Dragon King).


A naga guarding the Temple of Wat Sisaket in Viang Chan, LaosIn Vietnam, the dragon (Vietnamese: rồng) is the most important and sacred symbol. The dragon is strongly influenced by the Chinese dragon. According to the ancient creation myth of the Kinh people, all Vietnamese people are descended from dragons through Lạc Long Quân, who married Âu Cơ, a fairy. The eldest of their 100 sons founded the first dynasty of Hùng Vương Emperors.

In the Philippines, the Bakonawa appears as a gigantic serpent that lives in the sea. Ancient natives believed that the Bakonawa caused the moon or the sun to disappear during an eclipse.

The Nāga - a minor deity taking the form of a serpent - is common within both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Technically, the naga is not a dragon, though it is often taken as such (especially in east asian forms of buddhism); the term is ambiguous, and refers both to a tribe of people known as 'Nāgas', as well as to elephants and ordinary snakes. Within a mythological context, it refers to a deity assuming the form of a serpent with either one or many heads.

Occasionally the Buddha is depicted as sitting upon the coils of a serpent, with a fan of several serpent heads extending over his body. This is in reference to Mucalinda, a Nāga that protected Śākyamuni Buddha from the elements during the time of his enlightenment. Separated from the contextualising effect of the Buddha story, people may see only the head and thus infer that Mucalinda is a dragon, rather than a deity in serpentine form. Stairway railings on Buddhist temples will occasionally be worked to resemble the body of a Nāga with the head at the base of the railing. In Thailand, the head of Nāga, in a more impressionistic form, can be seen at the corners of temple roofs, with Nāga’s body forming the ornamentation on roofline eves up to the gables.


[edit] Speculation on the origins of dragons
Most experts on mythology and folklore argue that legends of dragons are based upon ordinary snakes and similar creatures coupled with common psychological fears amongst disparate groups of humans.

Some believe that the dragon may have had a real-life counterpart from which the various legends arose — typically dinosaurs or other archosaurs are mentioned as a possibility — but there is no physical evidence to support this claim, only alleged sightings collected by cryptozoologists. In a common variation of this hypothesis, giant lizards such as Megalania are substituted for the living dinosaurs. Some believe dragons are mental manifestations representing an assembly of inherent human fears of reptiles, teeth, claws, size and fire in combination.

Dinosaur and mammalian fossils were occasionally mistaken as the bones of dragons and other mythological creatures — for example, a discovery in 300 BC in Wucheng, Sichuan, China, was labeled as such by Chang Qu.[5] It is unlikely, however, that these finds alone prompted the legends of such monsters, but they may have served to reinforce them.


[edit] Dragons in world mythology
The ancient Mesopotamian god Marduk and his dragon, from a Babylonian cylinder seal



Dragon carving on Hopperstad stave church, Norway



Saint George slaying the dragon, as depicted by Paolo Uccello, c. 1470



The red dragon of Wales, Y Ddraig Goch, on the Flag of Wales





Asian dragons
Indonesian dragon Naga or Nogo Naga is a mythical animal from Indonesian mythology, and the myth encompasses almost all of the islands of Indonesia, especially those who were influenced heavily by Hindu culture(including Malaya. in fact, the word 'Naga' is a common noun for dragon in Malay). Like its Indian counterpart, it is considered as divine in nature, benevolent, and often associated with sacred mountains, forests, or certain parts of the sea.
Chinese dragon Lóng (or Lung) The Chinese dragon, is a mythical Chinese creature that also appears in other East Asian cultures, and is also sometimes called the Oriental (or Eastern) dragon. Depicted as a long, snake-like creature with four claws, it has long been a potent symbol of auspicious power in Chinese folklore and art.
Japanese dragon Ryū Similar to Chinese dragons, with three claws instead of four. They are benevolent (with exceptions), associated with water, and may grant wishes.
Philippine Dragon Bakonawa The Bakonawa appears as a gigantic serpent that lives in the sea.
Ancient natives believed that the Bakonawa caused the moon or the sun to disappear during an eclipse.

It is said that during certain times of the year, the bakonawa arises from the ocean and proceeds to swallow the moon whole. To keep the Bakonawa from completely eating the moon, the natives would go out of their houses with pans and pots in hand and make a noise barrage in order to scare the Bakonawa into spitting out the moon back into the sky.

Korean dragon Yong A sky dragon, essentially the same as the Chinese lóng. Like the lóng, yong and the other Korean dragons are associated with water and weather.
yo A hornless ocean dragon, sometimes equated with a sea serpent.
kyo A mountain dragon.
Vietnamese dragon Rồng or Long These dragons' bodies curve lithely, in sine shape, with 12 sections, symbolising 12 months in the year. They are able to change the weather, and are responsible for crops. On the dragon's back are little, uninterrupted, regular fins. The head has a long mane, beard, prominent eyes, crest on nose, but no horns. The jaw is large and opened, with a long, thin tongue; they always keep a châu (gem/jewel) in their mouths (a symbol of humanity, nobility and knowledge).
Siberian dragon Yilbegan Related to European Turkic and Slavic dragons
European dragons
Sardinian dragon scultone The dragon named "scultone" or "ascultone" was a legend in Sardinia, Italy for many a millennium. It had the power to kill human beings with its gaze. It was a sort of basilisk, lived in the bush and was immortal.
Scandinavian & Germanic dragons Lindworm Lindworms are serpent-like dragons with either two or no legs. In Nordic and Germanic heraldry, the lindworm looks the same as a wyvern. The dragon Fafnir was a lindworm.
Hungarian dragons (Sárkányok) zomok A great snake living in a swamp, which regularly kills pigs or sheep. A group of shepherds can easily kill them.
sárkánykígyó A giant winged snake, which is in fact a full-grown zomok. It often serves as flying mount of the garabonciások (a kind of magician). The sárkánykígyó rules over storms and bad weather.
sárkány A dragon in human form. Most of them are giants with multiple heads. Their strength is held in their heads. They become gradually weaker as they lose their heads.
Slavic dragons zmey, zmiy, змей, or zmaj Similar to the conventional European dragon, but multi-headed. They breathe fire and/or leave fiery wakes as they fly. In Slavic and related tradition, dragons symbolize evil. Specific dragons are often given Turkic names (see Zilant, below), symbolizing the long-standing conflict between the Slavs and Turks. However, in Serbian and Bulgarian folklore, dragons are defenders of the crops in their home regions, fighting against a destructive demon Ala, whom they shoot with lightnings.[6][7]
Romanian dragons Balaur Balaur are very similar to the Slavic zmey: very large, with fins and multiple heads.
Chuvash dragons Vere Celen Chuvash dragons represent the pre-Islamic mythology of the same region.
Asturian dragons Cuélebre In Asturian mythology the Cuélebres are giant winged serpents, which live in caves where they guard treasures and kidnapped xanas. They can live for centuries and, when they grow really old, they use their wings to fly. Their breath is poisonous and they often kill cattle to eat. Asturian term Cuelebre comes from Latin colŭbra, i.e. snake.
Portuguese dragons Coca In Portuguese mythology coca is a female dragon that fights with Saint George. She loses her strength when saint George cuts off one of her ears.
Tatar dragons Zilant Really closer to a wyvern, the Zilant is the symbol of Kazan. Zilant itself is a Russian rendering of Tatar yılan, i.e. snake.
Turkish dragons Ejderha or Evren The Turkish dragon secretes flames from its tail, and there is no mention in any legends of its having wings, or even legs. In fact, most Turkish (and later, Islamic) sources describe dragons as gigantic snakes.
American dragons
Meso-American dragon Feathered Serpent Feathered serpent deity responsible for giving knowledge to mankind, and sometimes also a symbol of death and resurrection.
Inca dragon Amaru A dragon (sometimes called a snake) on the Inca culture. The last Inca emperor Tupak Amaru's name means "Lord Dragon"
Brazilian dragon Boi-tata A dragon-like animal (sometimes like a snake) of the Brazilian Indian cultures.
Chilean dragon Caicaivilu and Tentenvilu Snake-type dragons, Caicaivilu was the sea god and Tentenvilu was the earth god, both from the Chilean island Chiloé.


[edit] Notable dragons

[edit] In myth
Main article: List of dragons in mythology and folklore
Azhi Dahaka was a three-headed demon often characterized as dragon-like in Persian Zoroastrian mythology.
Similarly, Ugaritic myth describes a seven-headed sea serpent named Lotan.
The Hydra of Greek mythology is a water serpent with multiple heads with mystic powers. When one was chopped off, two would regrow in its place. This creature was vanquished by Heracles and his cousin.
Smok Wawelski was a Polish dragon who was supposed to have terrorized the hills around Kraków in the Middle Ages.
Y Ddraig Goch is now the symbol of Wales (see flag, above), originally appearing as the red dragon from the Mabinogion story Lludd and Llevelys.
Nidhogg, a dragon in Norse mythology, was said to live in the darkest part of the Underworld, awaiting Ragnarok. At that time he would be released to wreak destruction on the world.
Orochi, the eight-headed serpent slain by Susanoo in Japanese mythology

[edit] In literature and fiction
Main article: List of fictional dragons
The Old English epic Beowulf ends with the hero battling a dragon.

Dragons remain fixtures in fantasy books, though portrayals of their nature differ. For example, Smaug, from The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, who is a classic, European-type dragon; deeply magical, he hoards treasure and burns innocent towns. Contrary to most old folklore and literature J. R. R. Tolkien's dragons are very intelligent and can cast spells over mortals.

A common theme in modern western fantasy and science fiction literature concerning dragons is a partnership between humans and dragons, as featured in Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series and in Christopher Paolini's Eragon and Eldest.

Dragons are common (especially as non-player characters) in fantasy role-playing games and in some computer fantasy role-playing games. See Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons) for additional information.

On the lighter side, Puff the Magic Dragon was first a poem, later a song made famous by Peter, Paul and Mary, that has become a pop-culture mainstay.


[edit] As emblems
The dragon is the emblem of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The city has a dragon bridge which is embellished with four dragon depictions. The city's basketball club is nicknamed the "Green Dragons". License plates on cars from the city also feature a dragon depiction.

Y Ddraig Goch (IPA: [ə ðraig gox]) (Welsh for the red dragon) appears on the national Flag of Wales (the flag itself is also called the "Draig Goch"), and is the most famous dragon in Britain. There are many legends about y Ddraig Goch.

The dragon is also in the emblem of FC Porto, a sports club from Portugal, which is nicknamed "Dragões" (Dragons). Their football stadium is also nicknamed "Estádio do Dragão" (Dragon Stadium) and has a large bronze Dragon logo at the entrance.


[edit] See also
Look up dragon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
DragonEuropean dragon
Chinese dragon
Slavic dragon
Saint George and the Dragon
Real-life reptile species such as the Komodo Dragon and the Draco Lizards
An Instinct for Dragons
Dragon Kung Fu
Princess and dragon
Pig dragon
Ouroboros
Beowulf
Sigurd
Fafnir
The Garden of the Hesperides, guarded by the dragon Ladon
Yamata no Orochi
Susanoo

[edit] Further reading
Dragons, A Natural History by Dr. Karl Shuker Simon & Schuster (1995) ISBN 0-684-81443-9
A Book of Dragons by Ruth Manning-Sanders (a representative collection of dragon fairy tales from around the world)

[edit] Notes
^ Berrin, Katherine & Larco Museum. The Spirit of Ancient Peru:Treasures from the Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1997.
^ Orcutt, Larry (2002). Slaying the Dragon. Retrieved on 2007-03-17.
^ http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06137a.htm
^ Giorgi, 2005, pp. 156-62.
^ http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1334145.htm
^ Зечевић, Слободан (1981). Митска бића српских предања. Belgrade: "Вук Караџић" : Етнографски музеј.  (A book in Serbian about mythical creatures of Serbian traditions)
^ Беновска-Събкова, Милена. Змей. Родово Наследство. Retrieved on [[13 August 2007]]. (An extract from the book Змеят в българския фолклор (The Dragon in Bulgarian Folklore), in Bulgarian)

[edit] References
Giorgi, Rosa. (2005) Angels and Demons in Art. Edited by Stephano Zuffi; translated by Rosanna M. Giammanco Frongia. Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum.
Littleton, C. Scott. (2002) Mythology: The Illustrated Anthology of World Myth and Storytelling. London: Duncan Baird.

[edit] External links
Chinese Dragons in the news
Lecture: The Meaning of Dragons in Korean Folklore from The Korea Society

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon"
Categories: Articles to be merged since June 2007 | Articles that may contain original research | Articles needing additional references from August 2007 | Dragons | Cryptids | Heraldic beasts | Mythological hybrids

戈兰

European dragon
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Dragon. (Discuss)
In European folklore, a dragon is a serpentine legendary creature. The Latin word draco, as in the constellation Draco, comes directly from Greek δράκων, drákōn. The word for dragon in Germanic mythology and its descendants is worm (Old English: wyrm, Old High German: wurm, Old Norse: ormr), meaning snake or serpent. In Old English wyrm means "serpent", draca means "dragon". Finnish lohikäärme means directly "salmon-snake", but the word lohi- was originally louhi- meaning crags or rocks, a "mountain snake". Though a winged creature, the dragon is generally to be found in its underground lair, a cave that identifies it as an ancient creature of earth. Likely, the dragons of European and Mid Eastern mythology stem from the cult of snakes found in religions throughout the world.

The dragon of the modern period is typically depicted as a huge fire-breathing, scaly and horned dinosaur-like creature, with leathery wings, with four legs and a long muscular tail. It is sometimes shown with feathered wings, crests, fiery manes, and various exotic colorations. Iconically it has at last combined the Chinese dragon with the western one. Asian dragons are long serpent like creatures which possess the scales of a carp, horns of a deer, feet of an eagle, the body of a snake, a feathery mane, large eyes, and can be holding a pearl to control lightning. They usually have no wings. Imperial dragons that were sewn on to silk had five claws (for a king), or four for a prince, or three for courtiers of a lower ranking. The dragons were bringers of rain and lived in and governed bodies of water (e.g lakes, rivers, oceans, or seas). Asian dragons were benevolent, but bossy (this strict behavior is why one of China's nicknames is "the Dragon"). In Western folklore, dragons are usually portrayed as evil, with exceptions mainly in modern fiction.

Many modern stories represent dragons as extremely intelligent creatures who can talk, associated with (and sometimes in control of) powerful magic. Dragon's blood often has magical properties: for example it let Siegfried understand the language of the Forest Bird. The typical dragon protects a cavern or castle filled with gold and treasure and is often associated with a great hero who tries to slay it, but dragons can be written into a story in as many ways as a human character. This includes the monster being used as a wise being whom heroes could approach for help and advice, so much so that they resembled Asian dragons rather than European dragons of myth. For example, when German author Michael Ende created a "Luckdragon" in his fantasy novel "The Neverending Story" and a movie was made based on it, many western audiences were confused as to why a "Luckdragon" had no wings and looked like a giant flying dog.




Contents [hide]
1 Roman dragons
2 Dragons in Slavic mythology
3 Dragons in Germanic mythology
4 Dragons in Celtic mythology
5 Dragons in Basque mythology
6 Dragons in Catalan mythology
7 Dragons in Italian mythology
8 Notes
9 See also
10 External links



[edit] Roman dragons
Roman dragons evolved from serpentine Greek ones, combined with the dragons of the Near East, in the mix that characterized the hybrid Greek/Eastern Hellenistic culture. From Babylon, the musrussu was a classic representation of a Near Eastern dragon. John's Book of Revelation — Greek literature, not Roman — describes Satan as "a great dragon, flaming red, with seven heads and ten horns". Much of John's literary inspiration is late Hebrew and Greek, but John's dragon, like his Satan, are both more likely to have come originally through the Near East. Perhaps the distinctions between dragons of western origin and Chinese dragons (q.v.) are arbitrary. A later Roman dragon was certainly of Iranian origin: in the Roman Empire, where each military cohort had a particular identifying signum, (military standard), after the Dacian Wars and Parthian War of Trajan in the east, the Draco military standard entered the Legion with the Cohors Sarmatarum and Cohors Dacorum (Sarmatian and Dacian cohort) — a large dragon fixed to the end of a lance, with large gaping jaws of silver and with the rest of the body formed of colored silk. With the jaws facing into the wind, the silken body inflated and rippled, resembling a windsock. This signum is described in Vegetius Epitoma Rei Militaris, 379 CE (book ii, ch XIII. 'De centuriis atque vexillis peditum'):

Primum signum totius legionis est aquila, quam aquilifer portat. Dracones etiam per singulas cohortes a draconariis feruntur ad proelium
(The first sign of the entire legion is the eagle, which the eagle-bearer carries. In addition, dragons are carried into battle by each cohort, by the 'dragoneers')
and in Ammianus Marcellinus, xvi. 10, 7 (Harry Thurston Peck, Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, 1898: 'Signum'). It is hard to resist giving this Romanized Parthian dragon a distant Chinese origin.


[edit] Dragons in Slavic mythology

Zmey Gorynych, by Victor VasnetsovMain article: Slavic dragon
Dragons of Slavic mythology hold mixed temperaments towards humans. For example, dragons (дракон, змей, ламя) in Bulgarian mythology are either male or female, each gender having a different view of mankind. The female dragon and male dragon, often seen as brother and sister, represent different forces of agriculture. The female dragon represents harsh weather and is the destroyer of crops, the hater of mankind, and is locked in a never ending battle with her brother. The male dragon protects the humans' crops from destruction and is generally loving to humanity. Fire and water play major roles in Bulgarian dragon lore; the female has water characteristics, whilst the male is usually a fiery creature. In Bulgarian legend, dragons are three headed, winged beings with snake's bodies.

In Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian lore, a dragon, or zmey (Russian), smok (Belarusian) zmiy (Ukrainian), is generally an evil, four-legged beast with few if any redeeming qualities. Zmeys are intelligent, but not very highly so; they often place tribute on villages or small towns, demanding maidens for food, or gold. Their number of heads ranges from one to seven or sometimes even more, with three- and seven-headed dragons being most common. The heads also regrow if cut off, unless the neck is "treated" with fire (similar to the hydra in Greek mythology). Dragon blood is so poisonous that Earth itself will refuse to absorb it.

The most famous Polish dragon is the Wawel Dragon or smok wawelski. It supposedly terrorized ancient Kraków and lived in caves on the Vistula river bank below the Wawel castle. According to lore based on the Book of Daniel, it was killed by a boy who offered it a sheepskin filled with sulphur and tar. After devouring it, the dragon became so thirsty that it finally exploded after drinking too much water. A metal sculpture of the Wawel Dragon is a well-known tourist sight in Kraków. It is very stylised but, to the amusement of children, noisily breathes fire every few minutes. The Wawel dragon also features on many items of Kraków tourist merchandise.

Other dragon-like creatures in Polish folklore include the basilisk, living in cellars of Warsaw, and the Snake King from folk legends.


[edit] Dragons in Germanic mythology
The most famous dragons in Norse mythology and Germanic mythology, are:

Níðhöggr who gnawed at the roots of Yggdrasil;
The dragon encountered by Beowulf;
Fafnir, who was killed by Siegfried. Fafnir turned into a dragon because of his greed.
Lindworms are monstrous serpents of Germanic myth and lore, often interchangeable with dragons.
Many European stories of dragons have them guarding a treasure hoard. Both Fafnir and Beowulf's dragon guarded earthen mounds full of ancient treasure. The treasure was cursed and brought ill to those who later possessed it.

Dragons in the emblem books popular from late medieval times through the 17th century often represent the dragon as an emblem of greed. (Some quotes are needed) The prevalence of dragons in European heraldry demonstrates that there is more to the dragon than greed.

Though the Latin is draco, draconis, it has been supposed by some scholars, including John Tanke of the University of Michigan, that the word dragon comes from the Old Norse 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 verb derkesthai, meaning "to see", referring to the dragon's legendarily keen eyesight. 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, or of the mounted Phrygian god Sabazios vanquishing the chthonic serpent, but its origins are obscure.

The tale of George and the Dragon has been modified for modern works, with Saint George portrayed in one Welsh nationalist rendering as an effete wally who faints at the sight of the dragon [1] and a poem by U. A. Fanthorpe based on Paolo Uccello's painting, which hangs in the British National Gallery. In the poem, Saint George is a thug, the Maiden considers the relative sexual merits of the dragon and saint, and the Dragon is the only sane character. Certainly, Uccello's fifteenth-century painting, in which the Maiden has the dragon on a leash, is itself not the most conventional representation of the story.

It is possible that the dragon legends of northwestern 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, or that the sight of giant fossil bones eroding from the earth may have inspired dragon myths (compare Griffin).

The Germanic tribe, the Anglo Saxons, under the warriors Hengest and Horsa broght the symbol of the White Dragon to England in the United Kingdom. Today, the White Dragon is representative of England.


[edit] Dragons in Celtic mythology

The Welsh flag, showing a red dragon passantIn Britain, the dragon is now more commonly associated with Wales due to the national flag having a red dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) as its emblem and their national rugby union and rugby league teams are known as the dragons. This may originate in Arthurian Legend where Merlin, employed by Vortigern, had a vision of the red dragon (representing the Britons) and the white dragon (representing the invading Saxons) fighting beneath Dinas Emrys. The red dragon was linked with the Britons who are today represented by the Welsh and Cornish, and it is believed that the white dragon refers to the Saxons - now the English - who invaded Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries. This particular legend also features in the Mabinogion in the story of Llud and Llevelys.

It has also been speculated that the red dragon of Wales may have originated in the Sarmatian-influenced Draco standards carried by Late Roman cavalry, who would have been the primary defence against the Saxons. In Cymric language the word "ddraich" means also a chieftain, apparently due to the Roman draco standards.

The Welsh flag is parti per fess Argent and Vert; a dragon Gules passant.


[edit] Dragons in Basque mythology
Herensuge is the name given to the dragon in Basque mythology, meaning apparently the "third" or "last serpent". The best known legend has St. Michael descending from Heaven to kill it but only once God accepted to accompany him in person.

Sugaar, the Basque male god, is often associated with the serpent or dragon but able to take other forms as well. His name can be read as "male serpent".

A. Xaho, a romantic myth creator of the 19th century, fused these myths in his own creation of Leherensuge, the first and last serpent, that in his newly coined legend would arise again some time in the future bringing the rebirth of the Basque nation.


[edit] Dragons in Catalan mythology

Vibria in a parade in Reus (Catalonia)Dragons are well-known in Catalan myths and legends, in no small part because St. George (Catalan Sant Jordi) is the patron saint of Catalonia. Like most dragons, the Catalan dragon (Catalan drac) is basically an enormous serpent with two legs, or, rarely, four, and sometimes a pair of wings. As in many other parts of the world, the dragon's face may be like that of some other animal, such as a lion or bull. As is common elsewhere, Catalan dragons are fire-breathers, and the dragon-fire is all-consuming. Catalan dragons also can emit a fetid odor, which can rot away anything it touches.

The Catalans also distinguish a víbria or vibra (cognate with English viper and wyvern), a female dragon with two prominent breasts, two claws and an eagle's beak.


[edit] Dragons in Italian mythology
The legend of Saint George and the dragon is well-known in Italy. But other Saints are depicted fighting a dragon. For instance, the first bishop of the city of Forlì, named Saint Mercurialis, was said to have killed a dragon and saved Forlì. So he often is depicted in the act of killing a dragon. Likewise, the first patron saint of Venice, Saint Theodore of Tyro, was a dragon-slayer, and a statue representing his slaying of the dragon still tops one of the two columns in St. Mark's square.


[edit] Notes

[edit] See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
DragonList of dragons in mythology and folklore
Dragons in Greek mythology
List of fictional dragons
List of dragons in fantasy fiction
Chinese dragon
Cockatrice
The Dragon curve Fractal
Griffin
An Instinct for Dragons, hypothesis about the origin of dragon myths
Order of the Dragon, founded in 1408 by Sigismund, King of Hungary, later Holy Roman Emperor.
Persian dragon
Smocza Jama ("dragon's den"), a cave in Kraków, Poland
Sea monster
Zilant

[edit] External links
"Theoi Project" website: Dragons of classical Greece, excerpts from Greek sources, illustrations, lists and links.
A víbria costume, as worn by a Catalan geganter.
www.fectio.org.uk - Draco Late Roman military standard
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_dragon"
Categories: Articles to be merged since June 2007 | Dragons | Medieval legends | European legendary creatures

戈兰

Python
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This article is about the snake family. For the programming language, see Python (programming language). For other uses, see Python (disambiguation).
Python


Ball python, Python regius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Subclass: Lepidosauria

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Serpentes

Superfamily: Henophidia

Family: Pythonidae


Genera
Aspidites
Antaresia
Apodora
Bothrochilus
Leiopython
Liasis
Morelia
Python

Python is the common name for a group of non-venomous constricting snakes, specifically the family Pythonidae. Other sources consider this group a subfamily of the Boas (Pythoninae). Pythons are more related to boas than to any other snake-family. There is also a genus within Pythonidae which carries the name Python (Daudin, 1803). Pythons are distinguishable from boas in that they have teeth on the premaxilla, a small bone at the very front and center of the upper jaw. Most boas produce live young, while pythons produce eggs. Some species of sand boas (Ericinae) are also called python.

Contents [hide]
1 Description
2 Behavior
3 Reproduction
4 Species
5 References
6 Sources



[edit] Description
Pythons range in size from 1 to 10 meters (3 to 30 feet) in length. Some pythons are among the longest species of snakes in the world; the Reticulated Python holds the record for longest snake, at 10.32 m (32 ft 9.5 in).[1] However the largest snakes that ever lived are the Paleocene Giganthopis garstini and Madtsoia. Both of these gargantuan snakes could grow to be at least 50 feet long.[citation needed] They vary in color depending on species.

Some species exhibit vestigial bones of the pelvis and rear legs, which are externally apparent in the form of a pair of anal spurs on each side of the cloaca. These spurs are larger in males than females, and are used by the male to grip and/or stimulate the female during copulation. Male pythons of certain species sometimes cause spur related injuries to each other during territorial combat, and though more likely to be incidental than intentional, some captured specimens have shown multiple episodes of scarring from such injuries.

Some pythons display vivid colors and patterns on their scales while others are a nondescript brown or olive. They usually reflect appropriate camouflage for their native habitat. Even within a given species, there may be enormous differences in coloration and pattern among specimens from different parts of their range.

There are periodic reports about record breaking snakes of phenomenal proportions similar to that of a reticulated python found on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia in 2003, and now on display in a Javan village[2] [3]. As with most such claims, this one has subsequently been debunked[4]. The motivation for such grossly exaggerated claims appears to be mainly economic gain, as, particularly when captured alive, such animals tend to become income producing tourist attractions for their keepers.


[edit] Behavior
Pythons, like many other snakes, kill their prey by the process of constriction, whereby they grasp the prey animal in their teeth to restrain it, hastily wrapping a number of coils around the body of the prey. Then, by applying sufficient pressure to prevent the prey from being able to inhale, they ultimately cause it to succumb to asphyxia. The prey animal might also suffer some restriction to circulation during constriction, particularly where the snake's coils are wrapped around the animal's neck, but this is not usually fatal as death typically occurs much sooner due to asphyxiation.

Pythons do not, as popularly believed, crush or squeeze their prey to death, and when constricting normal sized prey, the snake will almost certainly never apply enough pressure to break bones.


White-lipped Python Leiopython albertisiiLarger pythons will usually eat something about the size of a house cat, but larger food items are not unknown (some large Asian species have been known to take down adult Deer, and the African Rock Python has been documented preying upon Gazelle). Pythons swallow their prey whole, and take several days or even weeks to fully digest it. Despite their intimidating size and muscular power, they are generally not dangerous to humans.

Most pythons have rows of heat-sensing organs along their lower lips (labial pits). These pits enable the python to detect objects that are hotter than the surrounding environment with great accuracy, and enable hunting to take place in total darkness, such as inside caves. Pythons that do not have heat-sensing organs identify their prey by smell. Pythons are ambush predators: they typically stay in a camouflaged position and then suddenly strike at passing prey.

Pythons will not usually attack humans unless startled or provoked, although females protecting their eggs can be aggressive. A very large adult python could kill a human being. Unsuspecting children can easily become prey and swallowed whole after being strangulated. Reports of python attacks on human beings were quite common in South and Southeast Asia in the past but are quite rare nowadays. This is because pythons have been aggressively hunted, driving some species (like the Indian Python) to the brink of extinction.


[edit] Reproduction
Most species of python are available in the exotic pet trade.

The larger species such as the Burmese python and Reticulated Python can be dangerous. Owners, especially inexperienced owners, need to exercise caution with these species. Cases of large pet pythons killing their owners have been documented.[5]

The Everglades National Park has had an invasive population of Burmese Pythons since the late 1990's that have caused harm to the natural environment of the Everglades. More than 300 have been removed. The snakes are not native to the south Floridian marshlands. They have been deposited there by pet owners who no longer wish to care for them and also did not want to euthanize them. Scientists believe that the pythons are a grave threat to nearly every species of animal in the Everglades, even alligators. There have been several accounts of python vs. alligator encounters there, including one in the fall of 2005 between a 13 foot (4 m) python and a six foot (1.8 m) gator that proved fatal for both. The two were found with the gator's body protruding from the snakes torn open stomach.[6][7]

http://www.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2005/10/06/mn_gator_python_19y45.jpg





[edit] Species

Black-headed Python, Aspidites melanocephalus
Carpet Python, Morelia spilota
Green Tree Python, Morelia viridis
Albino Burmese Python, Python molurus bivittatus
Green Tree Python, Morelia viridis
Borneo Short-tailed Python, Python breitensteiniGenus Aspidites

Black-headed Python, Aspidites melanocephalus
Woma Python, Aspidites ramsayi










Western Woma Python, Aspidites ramsayi panoptes
Desert Woma Python, Aspidites ramsayi richardjonseii
Genus Antaresia

Children's Python, Antaresia childreni
Spotted Python, Antaresia maculosa
Pygmy Python, Antaresia perthensis
Stimson's Python, Antaresia stimsoni
Genus Apodora

Papuan Python, Apodora papuana
Genus Bothrochilus

Bismark Ringed Python, Bothrochilus boa
Genus Leiopython

Northern (D'Albertis') White-lipped Python, Leiopython albertisii
Leiopython albertisii barkeri
Brown White-lipped Python, Leiopython albertisii bennetti
Southern (Black) White-lipped Python, Leiopython hoserae
Genus Liasis

Brown Water Python, Liasis fuscus
Dauan Island Water Python, Liasis fuscus cornwallisius
Liasis fuscus fuscus
Liasis fuscus jackyae
Indonesian Water Python, Liasis mackloti
Wetar Island Python, Liasis mackloti dunni
Macklot's Python, Liasis mackloti mackloti
Savu Python, Liasis mackloti savuensis
Olive Python, Liasis olivaceus
Liasis olivaceus olivaceus
Pilbara Olive Python, Liasis olivaceus barroni
Genus Morelia

Amethistine Python, Morelia amethistina
Boelen's Python, Morelia boeleni
Centralian Carpet Python or Bredl's Python, Morelia bredli
Rough-scaled Python, Morelia carinata
Mollucan Python, Morelia clastolepis
Australian Scrub Python, Morelia kinghorni
Morelia macburniei
Flinders Python, Morelia mippughae
Tanimbar Python, Morelia nauta
Oenpelli Python, Morelia oenpelliensis
Carpet Python, Morelia spilota
New Guinea Carpet Python, Morelia spilota harrisoni
Southwestern Carpet Python, Morelia spilota imbricata
Jungle Carpet Python, Morelia spilota cheynei
Morelia spilota macrospila
Coastal Carpet Python, Morelia spilota mcdowelli
Diamond Python, Morelia spilota spilota
Northwestern Carpet Python, Morelia spilota variegata
Inland Carpet Python, Morelia spilotes metcalfei
Halmahera Python, Morelia tracyae
Green Tree Python, Morelia viridis
Morelia viridis viridis
Morelia viridis shireenae
Genus Python

Angolan Python, Python anchietae
Borneo Short-tailed Python, Python breitensteini
Red Blood Python, Python brongersmai
Sumatran Short-tailed Python, Python curtus
Indian Python, Python molurus
Indian Python, Python molurus molurus
Burmese Python, Python molurus bivittatus
South African Python, Python natalensis
Ball Python, Python regius
Reticulated Python, Python reticulatus
Python reticulatus reticulatus
Selayer Reticulated Python, Python reticulatus saputrai
Kayaudi Dwarf Reticulated Python, Python reticulatus jampeanus
African Rock Python, Python sebae
Timor Python, Python timoriensis

[edit] References
^ http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/content_pages/record.asp?recordid=51013
^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3354403.stm
^ http://www.snopes.com/critters/wild/bigsnake.asp
^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1116074,00.html
^ http://www.anapsid.org/coloburm.html
^ http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/12/18/python.detectives.ap/index.html
^ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/06/0603_040603_invasivespecies_2.html
http://www.hotlinkspace.com/video.php?id=81


[edit] Sources
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory Reptile Database
Integrated Taxonomic Information System