Dragons of Europe
The dragons found in European cultures are what most think of when they hear the word "dragon." These large creatures come with scales, wings, and the ability to breath fire. They come in a variety of groups as well, consisting of Wyverns, Drakes, Wyrms/Wurms, and the classic Western Dragon. Dragons in Western cultures vary wildly in appearance and nature, but always have serpentine features and wings. They are often used to represent Satan and Hell, as well as evil in general. They are powerful creatures of fire and death, and to kill one is very honorable to many.
Stavkirke Dragehode
Photographer: Petr Šmerkl/Wikipedia
Hopperstad stavkirke, built circa 1130, Vikøyri, Norway
This building was founded around 1130, and had remained unchanged until renovations in 1885. Many churches like this one can be found across Scandinavia. They are made with a unique structure using columns and long pointed roofs. Their most notable feature are the dragon heads situated at each end of each roof. The entire building is made of wood, and they date back to the twelfth century. The dragons usually have their heads tipped up and are breathing fire.
Dreki, Draken, Skeid, and Busse
Art: Bayeux Tapestry
During the times of Vikings, there were several types of heads made to be placed on the prow of their longships. The most popular version was the head of a dragon, with a tail put on the other end. They were used for both the "skeid" and "busse" type ships and were believed to scare enemies. Images of these dragon ships and heads appeared often in paintings, metalwork, and even literature. Today they are commonly associated with Vikings and mythology.
Fafnir
Sigurd slaying Fafnir on the right portal plank from Hylestad Stave Church, from the second half of the 12th century
Fafnir was a powerful dwarf who appears in the Volsunga Saga. He was the son of the dwarf king Hreidmar. He and his three brothers help protect their father's treasures. One day, Odin, Loki, and Hœnir came across Ótr, one of Hreidmar's sons who had been in the form of an otter at the time. They killed and skinned him, and when they came across Hreidmar's dwelling, they displayed the pelt with great pleasure. Hreidmar and his two remaining sons took all but Loki hostage, demanding all the gold and treasure that could fit in the otter pelt as payment. Loki placed the cursed gold and ring of Andaviri in the pelt. Fafnir killed his father and took the treasure. His greed consumed him, turning him into a dragon. Regin, Fafnir's other brother, sent Sigurd to slay the dragon that Fafnir had become. Sigurd dug a pit and when the time came, plunged his sword Gram into Fafnir's heart.
Beowulf Fights the Dragon
Siegfried, the Hero of the North, and Beowulf, the Hero of the Anglo-Saxons (1900)
From the great Anglo-Saxon epic, Beowulf, the final story tells of the epic battle between Beowulf and a dragon. Beowulf had been King of Geats for fifty years, and had been a wise ruler. When someone stole a jeweled cup from the dragon's lair, the dragon woke up and preyed ferociously on the locals. Beowulf and all of his thanes went to confront the dragon, but they all fled, save for one. It was left to Beowulf and the thane Wiglaf to defeat the fearsome dragon. Wiglaf and Beowulf attack the dragon, Beowulf being fatally wounded but able to kill the dragon after Wiglaf gives it a slash with his sword. Beowulf dies an honorable death, and the dragon is slain.
Jörmungandr
Thor Battering the Midgard Serpent, Henry Fuseli, 1790,
The giant serpent of Midgard known as Jörmungandr is one of the powerful beings in Norse mythology. If he is moved from his plane, it could alter the boundaries of the universe, as is demonstrated by one of Thor's challenges. Jörmungandr was disguised as a giant cat and Thor was tasked with moving him. As one of the children of Loki, Jörmungandr is not usually portrayed as a good or benevolent being. Thor later fishes him up with the head of an ox when the giant Hymir, who is fishing with him, refuses to give him bait. One of the signs of Ragnarok's coming is the ocean becoming torrential as Jörmungandr becomes increasingly violent.
Gargoyles
Photographer: goingtotehran.com
Gargoyles have been around for a long time, with the oldest recorded one dating back to the 4th century BC Greece, depicting a lion head. It was situated on the Acropolis in Athens. They were later popularized during the Middle Ages, being used in Gothic architecture and being featured on many churches. They have always had a function of draining water from the roof, being connected to the building's gutters. They aren't always winged beasts, as masons had full control of what they created so long as it had a large and gaping mouth. They were often grotesque creatures, and have come to have many uses in terms of symbolism. They were used to symbolize creates of hell, the dangers of not coming to church, and hearts filled with evil. Today gargoyles can still be found on many old buildings as well as garden ornaments.
Naturalis Historia
Described by Pliny The Elder, art by Jann Johnston
In Pliny The Elder's Natural History he describes a great many things such as farming, minerals, and astronomy. His work includes just about everything that could be included in natural history. However, there were many things that seem very far fetched by today's standards. Fantastical beasts such as the Unicorn, a Phoenix, and even the mighty Dragon is described in his work. His zoology section takes up books eight through eleven, describing many animals and creatures, many of which are real, and a number of which are not. These creatures are brought to life by artist Jann Johnson, who drew a great amount of fish and sea animals, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, eight different Unicorns, and thirteen Dragon and Dragon like creatures. Today, many of these images can be found online and available as prints.
Here Be Dragons
Carta Marina Map
The exact origin of the phrase "here be dragons" is unknown, but the first recorded use of it was around 1510 on the Hunt Lenox Globe. The globe said “HC SVNT DRACONES” around the Eastern coast of Asia. Similar phrases were used since the time of the Romans, usually being "here be lions" as a way to indicate unmapped territory. The first rendition of this phrase was "terra incognita" meaning "land unknown" and was used in Ptolemy's Geographia from the year 150. Today it is a common phrase associated with the presence of dragons.
Lindwurmbrunnen
Photographer: Zacke82/Wikipedia
The Dragon of Klagenfurt is a well known tale, and was believed to be true by many. The tale tells of a dragon who lived in the River Glen, and wreaked havoc by causing floods and endangering travelers. After the duke offered a reward, a young man caught the dragon by tying an ox to a chain. The supposed skull of the beast was later found in 1335, but was actually a misidentified wooly rhinoceros skull. The skull was on display in town hall for a long time, and was recently donated to a museum. In 1590 a reconstruction of what the dragon may have looked like was created by Ulrich Vogelsang by creating a sculpture. It is more likely that it was an anonymous artist who created the work. The fountain that was initially planned wasn't added until 1624.
Basilisk / Cockatrice
Artist: Ulisse Aldrovandi
The Basilisk originates in European mythology, being prevalent during the medieval ages. It is often associated with the Cockatrice, which is a slightly modified version of the Basilisk. Both have reptilian bodies with the head of a rooster. The Cockatrice also has wings, whereas the Basilisk does not. Both are said to hatch only when a chicken lays an egg and a toad or snake raises and hatches it. The Basilisk is known as the king of snakes for the crown-like shape on his head, leading it to have a chicken's head. It is also said that he can kill any being with a single glare. The creature makes appearences in famous works such as Geoffery Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Leonardo da Vinci's beastiary, and the English version of the Christian Bible.
Amphisbaena
Artist: The Rochester Bestiary circa 1230-1240
A peculiar creature known for being like a snake with two heads, the Amphibaena is a mythical creature from European myth. This Dragon has a head on it's neck and tail, with the wings of a bird and two legs. According to Greek mythology, it was borne of the blood of Medusa's head and flew to the Libyan desert. They are able to run in either direction at high speeds, and one head is capable of excreting deadly poison. Their eyes are as bright as fire, and when nesting one head will rest while the other keeps watch. Some say that they have healing properties and can cure some ailments and diseases when killed.
Welsh and White Dragon
"Vortigern-Dragons" illustration from 15th-century manuscript of Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of the Kings of Britain.
During the 15th Century, the Welsh and Anglo-Saxons were not in the best of relationships. A story soon arose about a King of the Welsh named Vortigern having trouble. Every night, his castle in Dinas Emrys is destroyed. After consulting his advisors, they tell him to sacrifice a boy with no father. After finding the boy, the boy discovers his plan. The boy then tells King Vortigern about the dragons. After digging them out, the two continue to fight until the red one kills the white one. The boy informs him that the white dragon represents the Anglo-Saxons and that the red dragon represents his people, the Welsh. A later telling of the story makes the boy to be Merlin the Magician. The red Welsh dragon was later used on a coat of arms and is still popular today.
Mélusine / Melusina
Fair Melusine, Julius Hübner, 1844, oil on canvas
This mythical dragon woman hails from France, and first appeared roughly in the thirteenth century. Her story typically follows a straight forward telling. She marries a noble man of high stature only after he promises never to view her in the bath. He breaks his oath and discovers that she partially transforms. She will then take flight never to see the man again. Depending on the teller and country, the noble man changes as well as the description of Melusine. She is sometimes sad to be part fish, to have two tails, or to lack wings.
Saint George and The Dragon
Credit: Verona, Biblioteca Civica
Probably one of the most popular fables, the tale of Saint George and The Dragon has been around since the sixth century AD, with art being created as early as the eleventh century AD. The most popularized version tells of a dragon who terrorized the village Silene in Libya, eating their livestock. Villagers attempted to offer two sheep every day near the dragon's lair at the lake, but soon ran out of sheep. They then resorted to offering children through a raffle of sorts. When the king's daughter was offered, a wandering knight found her, he subdued the Dragon with the sign of the cross and used her girdle to tether it. He then promised the village that he would kill the Dragon if they converted to Christianity. Some version then end with him marrying the princess, and others end with him continuing to wonder. There are many tales like this one, and it is usually summarized as "the knight who saves the damsel in distress." Almost every image of Saint George shows him on a white horse with a long lance painted down at a Dragon on the ground.
Saint Martha and The Tarasuqe
Jacques de Voragine, Legenda aurea
The Tarasuqe is a a fantastical dragon-like hybrid that is described to have the head of a lion, six legs with bear claws, a turtle-like shell or carapaces, and a long serpentine tail. The tale of Tarasuqe first appeared in the twelfth century, and takes place in Province, France. At the time it was described somewhat differently, as a dragon-animal-fish hybrid that lurked in the river of Rhône. It was longer than a horse, thicker than an ox, had horns with teeth like swords. It would attack and sink ships that attempted to cross the river. Saint Martha was then asked for help, and she caught the creature in the act of eating a man. She subdued it by sprinkling Holy Water and putting up the sign of the cross. She then tied her girdle around it, and lead it to the village where the local villagers threw rocks and spears at it until it died.
Saint Michael and The Dragon
St. Michael and the Dragon by Antonio del Pollaiuolo
The story of Saint Michael and The Dragon tells of the eternal struggle between good and evil, Heaven and Hell. The Dragom, being a more powerful and deadly version of the Serpent, often represented evil and the Devil himself. In this story, Archangel Michael is sent with an army of angels to fight a fearsome Dragon that is troubling the land. As the book of Revelations tells, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven" (Rev. 12:7).
Saint Petroc and The Dragon
Stained window from Bodmin
This story is not as widely known as ones like Saint George and Saint Martha. This story starts in Bodmin England. There was an evil man who had a pit of snakes which he used to terrorize the people. After he died, no one took care of the snake, so they began to turn cannibal on each other. It went on until only one was left. It had grown so large that it was no longer a snake, but a dragon. It crawled out of the pit and began to terrorize the town. Petroc, joined by Samson and Abbot Wethnoc, went to confront the dragon. The caught the dragon as it was eating. It stopped to stare at them, but did not want to leave it's food. Petroc used it's hesitation to throw a Heavenly shield upon it, and used his handkerchief to tie around it's mouth. He then led the beast to the sea, where he had it promise to never bother people again.
Thomas Merrylin Dragons
Photographer: Marrylin Museum
Thomas Theodore Merrylin (1792- circa 1900) is described as a cryptozoologist who collected a great number of skeletons and artefacts of the mysterious and fictitious. The story tells of him sealing his basement in his home, which wasn't opened until 2006. however, the man and story were created by Alex CF, who also created the skeletons. They include an array of monsters and beasts, a number of them being dragons. There are four named species of dragon, Draco fluminis, D. minor, D. alatus, and D. magnus. They were created to look like actual skeletons and carcasses, being very well made with intricate and realistic details. The entire collection can be seen at the online Merrylin Cryptid Museum.
The Loch Ness Monster Nessie
Photographer: Ballista/Wikipedia
Cryptoclidus, used for Loch Ness Monster: The Ultimate Experiment
While not exactly a dragon, the Loch Ness Monster could be considered a sea dragon. The Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, is typically depicted as something resembling a plesiosaur. After the initial sighting being recorded in 1934, with sightings claimed as early as the 1870's, Nessie is one of the most popularized sea/lake monsters. In 2020, a total of thirteen sightings were recorded.