Animal trials were truly a strange part of Europe’s medieval history
Fire-breathing dragons derive from medieval depictions of the mouth of hell. The entrance to hell was often depicted as a monster's literal mouth.
Dragons featured in the books and TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s 'Game of Thrones.' They are called Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion.
Dragons have existed in Chinese culture and folklore for centuries. They symbolize wealth, power, and leadership. Ancient emperors were believed to be descendants of dragons.
Ancient discoveries of dinosaur bones may have led people to believe in dragons. It was a logical choice for those who had no knowledge about the ancient beasts.
The flower called a snapdragon is named so because its shape resembles a snapping head of a dragon. It's native to the rocky areas of Europe, North Africa, and North America.
Sources: (Live Science) (FactRetriever)
See also: Mythological figures similar to Jesus
A little dragon is called a dragonet. However, don't be fooled by their size. In mythology, smaller dragons were often more fierce and deadly than larger ones.
For the ancient Japanese, dragons were regarded as water deities, who were bringers of destruction. In Japanese folklore, dragons could be appeased with precious metals, but they could also kill with them.
In early dragon literature, before flying became popular, dragons would attack by dropping out of trees onto people's heads.
Dragons from Eastern cultures are more often depicted as kind, wise, and benevolent. While dragons from Western cultures typically are fire-breathing, and symbolic of the battle between good and evil.
In Old English literature, dragons were depicted as greedy hoarders. In the epic poem 'Beowulf,' a sleeping dragon is awakened when a cup is stolen from its pile of treasure. It then goes ballistic!
In medieval lore, the proper way to kill a dragon was to throw the lance into the dragon's mouth, because scales protected the rest of the dragon's body.
In many stories, dragon blood often has magical properties. One example is in Richard Wagner's epic music drama 'The Ring,' where dragon blood allows Siegfried to understand the language of the Forest Bird.
In Germanic and Norse mythology, dragons were depicted as giant sea serpents. They encircled the kingdoms and the surrounding sea.
In the 12-animal Chinese zodiac, the fifth year is the year of the dragon. Couples often try to plan their pregnancies to coincide with the Year of the Dragon, as it's a year particularly fortunate for babies.
In the Harry Potter universe, the heart string of a dragon can be used as the core of a wand. Also, a wizard or witch who sells dragon eggs is called a dragon dealer. The practice is, however, illegal.
One of the most iconic dragons in literature is the treasure guarding Smaug, from J.R.R. Tolkien's classic novel 'The Hobbit.'
In Greek mythology, a female dragon is called a drakaina, which is the feminine form of the ancient Greek word for dragon, drakon.
Red-colored stones are sometimes called dragon stones. This is because they were believed to be hardened lumps of dragon blood.
A dragonologist is a person who specializes in the study of dragons, from dragon history to mythology from around the world.
Since 600 CE, the red dragon has been a symbol of Wales. Historically, the greatest Welsh warriors were dubbed pendragon, meaning "dragon head" or "leader."
According to a Babylonian creation myth, Tiamat, a giant sea dragon, was murdered and his body cut in two, creating the sky and earth. From the dragon's blood came the first human.
Some Viking longships had carvings of dragon heads on their prows. The Vikings called these ships drakkar, meaning dragon ships.
The Bible mentions a dragon in the Book of Revelation, chapters 12–14, where it's seen as the devil. The King James translation of the Bible mentions dragons at least 35 times.
The ancient Greeks and Romans believed dragons had supernatural powers. The first mention of a dragon was in Homer’s Iliad. In their literature, the mythical beast generally brought death and chaos where it went.
The Uroboros, also known as the tail-biting dragon, symbolizes the eternal circle of life. It was also an important symbol for medieval alchemists.
The word dragon comes from the ancient Greek word draconata, meaning to watch or to see. The root may refer to a dragon's reputation for guarding treasure, either real or metaphorical.
Of all the dragon slayers in literature and mythology, St. George, the patron saint of Catalonia and England, is the most known.
In medieval folklore, St. Margaret of Antioch was imprisoned for her Christian beliefs. In prison, a dragon swallowed her, but according to legend, God helped her burst out of the dragon's stomach, killing it.
Dragons are among the most popular and fascinating mythological creatures in our history. From Asia to Europe, dragon tales are known in many cultures, and are believed to have existed for centuries. They have a long history and continue to appear in books, films, and television shows. Want to learn more about these mythical monsters? Then check out this gallery.
The dazzling history of dragons
Discover the world of these mythological beasts
LIFESTYLE Mythology
Dragons are among the most popular and fascinating mythological creatures in our history. From Asia to Europe, dragon tales are known in many cultures, and are believed to have existed for centuries. They have a long history and continue to appear in books, films, and television shows. Want to learn more about these mythical monsters? Then check out this gallery.