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BY*OHN(AMILTON
6)3)453!4 777!"$/05"#/0UBLISHEDBY!"$/0UBLISHING#OMPANY 6IKING$RIVE 3UITE %DINA -INNE...
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$P?EMLQ
BY *OHN (AMILTON
6)3)4 53 !4 777!"$/05"#/0UBLISHED BY !"$/ 0UBLISHING #OMPANY 6IKING $RIVE 3UITE %DINA -INNESOTA #OPYRIGHT Ú BY !BDO #ONSULTING 'ROUP )NC )NTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHTS RESERVED IN ALL COUNTRIES .O PART OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE PUBLISHER !"$/ $AUGHTERS IS A TRADEMARK AND LOGO OF !"$/ 0UBLISHING #OMPANY 0RINTED IN THE 5NITED 3TATES %DITOR 0AUL *OSEPH 'RAPHIC $ESIGN *OHN (AMILTON #OVER $ESIGN 4$) #OVER )LLUSTRATION ,ORD OF THE 3KIES Ú $ON -AITZ )NTERIOR 0HOTOS AND )LLUSTRATIONS P $RAGONS ON THE 3EA OF .IGHT DETAIL Ú $ON -AITZ P #HINESE DRAGON #ORBIS P ,ORD OF THE 3KIES Ú $ON -AITZ PP $RAGONS ON THE 3EA OF .IGHT Ú $ON -AITZ P 4AKEN TO 4ASK Ú *ANNY 7URTS P UPPER LEFT +OMODO DRAGON #ORBIS BOTTOM BOA CONSTRICTOR -ARY %VANS 0ICTURE ,IBRARY P )T 4AKES #OURAGE Ú $ON -AITZ P -ARDUK BATTLING 4IAMAT -ARY %VANS 0ICTURE ,IBRARY P $RAGON 0ERCHED Ú $ON -AITZ P 3T 'EORGE AND THE $RAGON BY 0AOLO 5CCELLO #ORBIS P $EATH OF THE ,AST $RAGON Ú $ON -AITZ P OARlSH -ARY %VANS 0ICTURE ,IBRARY P ,EVIATHAN -ARY %VANS 0ICTURE ,IBRARY P GARGOYLE #ORBIS P *OHN ,AMBTON -ARY %VANS 0ICTURE ,IBRARY P $RAGONS 2UN Ú *ANNY 7URTS P "OOKED &LIGHT Ú $ON -AITZ PP $ARKNESS AT 3ETHANON Ú $ON -AITZ P WYVERN #ORBIS P 3IEGFRIED SLAYS &AFNIR #ORBIS P +OREAN DRAGONS #ORBIS P 4WO $RAGONS IN #LOUDS BY +ANO (OGAI #ORBIS P $RAGONS 0AWN Ú *ANNY 7URTS P 3TRONGHOLD Ú $ON -AITZ
,IBRARY OF #ONGRESS #ATALOGING IN 0UBLICATION $ATA (AMILTON *OHN n $RAGONS *OHN (AMILTON P CM &ANTASY FOLKLORE )NCLUDES INDEX )3". $RAGONS ) 4ITLE
'2$( gDC
#/.4%.43 $RAGON 4ALES 4HE /RIGIN OF $RAGONS %ARLY $RAGON &OLKLORE 3T 'EORGE AND THE $RAGON 3ERPENT $RAGONS 4HE 4ALE OF THE ,AMBTON 7ORM #LASSICAL $RAGONS "EOWULF 6ERSUS THE $RAGON 3EMI $RAGONS !SIAN $RAGONS $RAGONS 4ODAY 'LOSSARY )NDEX
$ $P?EML 4?JCQ RAGONS OF ALL THE BEASTS OF MYTHOLOGY ARE THE MOST RECOGNIZED AND WIDESPREAD 4HEYVE APPEARED COUNTLESS TIMES IN FOLKLORE PAINTINGS AND MOVIES 4HEY POPULATE AN ENTIRE GENRE OF FANTASY LITERATURE $RAGONS REPRESENT MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE 4HESE LEGENDARY MONSTERS CAN BE MYSTERIOUS AND TERRIFYING 4HEY ARE OFTEN KNOWN AS lREBREATHING SYMBOLS OF EVIL AND CHAOS "UT THEY CAN ALSO BE WISE AND HEROIC BRINGERS OF RAIN AND GOOD FORTUNE $RAGONS ARE COMMON IN MANY CULTURES WORLDWIDE 4HEY CAN BE FOUND IN THE FOLK LITERATURE OF %NGLAND &RANCE 3CANDINAVIA 'REECE )NDIA AND EVEN #ENTRAL !MERICA 4HEY ARE VERY POPULAR IN !SIA ESPECIALLY #HINA AND *APAN -ARCO 0OLO REPORTED SEEING DRAGONS DURING HIS TRIP TO #HINA IN THE TH CENTURY 4HE %NGLISH WORD DRAGON COMES FROM THE 'REEK WORD DRAKON OR DRACA WHICH MEANS SERPENT $RAGONS COME IN MANY SHAPES AND SIZES 4HEY ARE USUALLY HUGE SOME BIGGER THAN AN ELEPHANT -OST ARE COVERED IN RED GOLD GREEN OR RED SCALES WHICH CAN BE PIERCED BY ONLY THE SHARPEST SWORD
,EFT ! #HINESE DRAGON &AR RIGHT $ON -AITZS ,ORD OF THE 3KIES
h(ERE BE DRAGONSvEARLY %UROPEAN MAPMAKERS
$RAGONS HAVE LONG POISONOUS FANGS AND RAZOR SHARP TALONS 4HEY HAVE HORNED HEADS AND INTELLIGENT REPTILIAN EYES 7ESTERN CLASSICAL DRAGONS ARE USUALLY EQUIPPED WITH HUGE BATLIKE WINGS !SIAN DRAGONS ALSO mY BUT MAGICALLY WITHOUT THE USE OF WINGS -ANY DRAGONS HAVE A SPECIAL GLAND IN THEIR THROATS WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO EXHALE lRE &IREBREATHING IS OFTEN USED AS A WARNING BUT CAN ALSO SERVE AS A POTENT WEAPON OF ATTACK $RAGONS HAVE MANY MAGICAL POWERS %VEN IN DEATH THEIR BODIES ARE PRIZED BY WIZARDS AND WARRIORS %AT THE HEART OF A DRAGON AND YOU CAN MAGICALLY UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE OF ANIMALS 3KIN BRUSHED WITH THE BLOOD OF A DRAGON BECOMES IMPERVIOUS TO SWORDS OR KNIVES 3CATTER THE TEETH OF A DRAGON UPON THE GROUND AND SUDDENLY AN ARMY OF SKELETON WARRIORS IS AT YOUR COMMAND -OST DRAGONS ARE CONTENT TO JEALOUSLY GUARD THEIR TREASURE HOARDS WHICH ARE USUALLY HIDDEN IN LAIRS DEEP UNDERGROUND "UT WHEN PROVOKED DRAGONS BEAT THE AIR WITH THEIR WINGS AND TAKE mIGHT LAYING WASTE TO THE COUNTRYSIDE IN A lREBREATHING RAGE /NLY THE BRAVEST WARRIOR KNIGHTS STAND A CHANCE AGAINST SUCH TERRIFYING MONSTERS
,EFT &ANTASY ILLUSTRATOR $ON -AITZS $RAGONS ON THE 3EA OF .IGHT
4FC/PGEGL MD$P?EMLQ RE DRAGONS REAL OR MERELY FOLK TALES )S IT POSSIBLE THAT A RACE OF GIANT WINGED LIZARDS ONCE EXISTED -ANY PEOPLE THINK SO OR AT LEAST THINK ITS POSSIBLE $RAGON MYTHS CAN BE FOUND IN MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES ON ALMOST EVERY CONTINENT ON %ARTH )T WOULD BE TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE MANY PEOPLE SAY FOR THE SAME lCTIONAL CREATURE TO SHOW UP IN SO MANY STORIES 3OME PEOPLE GUESS THAT DRAGONS MAY BE HUMANKINDS ANCIENT MEMORIES OF DINOSAURS 4HIS SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THOUGH $INOSAURS DIED OUT MILLIONS OF YEARS BEFORE PEOPLE WALKED THE EARTH %VEN THE EARLIEST PREHISTORIC PEOPLE COULDNT HAVE A MEMORY OF A DINOSAUR /THERS THINK THAT DRAGONS WERE A RACE OF GIANT REPTILIAN BEASTS THAT LIVED AFTER THE DINOSAURS DYING OUT JUST AS HUMAN CIVILIZATION BEGAN TO SPREAD -OST SCHOLARS ARE SKEPTICAL OF THIS THEORY ALSO !NCIENT HUMANS PAINTED A GREAT MANY NOW EXTINCT ANIMALS ON THE WALLS OF CAVES 9OU CAN STILL SEE THESE PAINTINGS TODAY IN PLACES LIKE &RANCE AND )TALY 4HE IMAGES INCLUDE WOOLY MAMMOTHS WOOLY RHINOCEROSES BISON LIONSBUT NO DRAGONS OR EVEN ANYTHING RESEMBLING A GIANT SERPENT
&AR RIGHT 4AKEN TO 4ASK BY FANTASY ARTIST *ANNY 7URTS
!BOVE ! +OMODO DRAGON
2IGHT ! TH CENTURY ILLUSTRATION OF A GIANT BOA CONSTRICTOR ATTACKING A GROUP OF BOATMEN IN )NDIA &AR RIGHT )T 4AKES #OURAGE BY $ON -AITZ
3OME OF THE EARLIEST DRAGON TALES CAN BE TRACED TO THE -IDDLE %AST AND SURROUNDING AREAS WHICH ARE KNOWN FOR LARGE SERPENTS 3OME EXPLORERS THINK A GIANT REPTILE PERHAPS A SURVIVING DINOSAUR STILL EXISTS IN THE WILD JUST WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED !FTER ALL THE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS OF %AST !FRICA WERE UNKNOWN TO SCIENCE UNTIL !ND IN A $UTCH ARMY OFlCER BROUGHT NEWS OF A FOOT M LONG hDRAGONv ON THE ISLAND OF +OMODO IN )NDONESIA /F COURSE THESE ARENT REAL DRAGONSTHEYRE MONITOR LIZARDS 3TILL THEYRE THE LARGEST LIZARDS ON THE PLANET AND THE NAME STUCK 4ODAY THEYRE KNOWN AS +OMODO DRAGONS 7ITH SUCH DISCOVERIES IN MIND SEVERAL DRAGON HUNTING EXPEDITIONS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE DEEP ALMOST IMPENETRABLE JUNGLES OF THE 2EPUBLIC OF #ONGO IN CENTRAL !FRICA AS WELL AS THE MYSTERIOUS FORESTS OF 0APUA .EW 'UINEA 3O FAR THE EXPLORERS HAVE RETURNED EMPTY HANDED 0ERHAPS CROCODILES ALLIGATORS GIGANTIC SNAKES OR EVEN WHALES HELPED START THE MYTH OF DRAGONS %VEN TODAY HUGE REPTILES STRIKE TERROR INTO THE HEARTS OF MANY PEOPLE )N $ECEMBER VILLAGERS IN )NDONESIA WERE REPORTED TO HAVE CAPTURED A PYTHON THAT MEASURED FEET LONG M AND WEIGHED POUNDS KG ,AID OUT END TO END THE SNAKE WOULD BE ABOUT ONE AND A HALF TIMES AS LONG AS A CITY BUS )MAGINE A PERSON FROM AN EARLIER TIME ENCOUNTERING SUCH A BEAST THEN RUNNING EXCITEDLY BACK TO HIS VILLAGE TO TELL OF HIS NARROW ESCAPE FROM THE hDRAGONv
%?PJW $P?EML &MJIJMPC VIDENCE HAS NOT YET BEEN FOUND OF REAL DRAGONS 0ERHAPS THEY EXIST ONLY IN OUR IMAGINATIONS 2EAL OR NOT MOST SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT THE DRAGONS WE KNOW TODAY COME FROM FOLKLORE 0EOPLE LOVE TO TELL STORIES AND THEY ESPECIALLY LIKE TO CREATE MONSTERS THAT HEROES CAN CONQUER $RAGONS SPARK OUR IMAGINATION 4HEY REPRESENT CHAOS WHICH IS THE DISORDER THAT RULED THE WORLD BEFORE CIVILIZATION &OLK TALES ABOUT DRAGONS SHOW US AN EVIL THAT MUST BE VANQUISHED 4HE DRAGON MUST BE DEFEATED IN ORDER FOR CIVILIZATION TO SPREAD 3OME SCHOLARS TRACE THE DRAGON MYTH TO ANCIENT "ABYLON YEARS AGO ! "ABYLONIAN CREATION MYTH EXPLAINS HOW THE EARTH BEGAN )N THE TALE 4IAMAT WAS A GIANT SEA DRAGON REPRESENTING THE SALTWATER OCEAN AND THE FORCES OF CHAOS 4IAMAT WAS EVENTUALLY SLAIN BY THE YOUNG GOD -ARDUK 4HE DRAGONS BODY WAS CHOPPED IN TWO CREATING THE SKY AND THE EARTH &ROM THE DRAGONS BLOOD -ARDUK CREATED THE lRST HUMANS !S CIVILIZATION SPREAD SO TOO DID TALES OF DRAGONS "UT HOW DID THE DRAGON MYTHS EXPAND OUTSIDE THE -IDDLE %AST (OW DID FAR mUNG AREAS LIKE THE "RITISH )SLES DEVELOP
"ELOW -ARDUK THE "ABYLONIAN SUN GOD BATTLES THE MONSTER 4IAMAT
SUCH A RICH TRADITION OF STORIES ABOUT lRE BREATHING WINGED SERPENTS /NE ANSWER CAN BE FOUND IN THE MOST FAMOUS DRAGON STORY OF ALL THE TALE OF 3AINT 'EORGE 'EORGE WAS A REAL PERSON 7HETHER OR NOT HE ACTUALLY SLEW HIS NOTORIOUS DRAGON WELL NEVER KNOW "UT YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH HE WAS GRANTED SAINTHOOD BY THE #ATHOLIC CHURCH AND HIS LEGEND GREW %UROPEAN CRUSADERS OF THE TH TH AND TH CENTURIES USED HIS STORY AS AN EXAMPLE OF #HRISTIAN FAITH OVERCOMING GREAT OBSTACLES 4HE DRAGON REPRESENTED THE FORCES OF EVIL !S CRUSADERS RETURNED HOME FROM THE -IDDLE %AST THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM THE STORY OF 3AINT 'EORGE AND ESPECIALLY THE BATTLE AGAINST THE DRAGON 'EORGE EVENTUALLY BECAME A PATRON SAINT OF %NGLAND (IS SLAYING OF THE DRAGON BECAME A VERY POPULAR SYMBOL IN FOLK LITERATURE SHOWING UP FREQUENTLY IN PAINTINGS AND BOOKS 4ROUBADOURS OF THE TH CENTURY SANG HIS STORY AND THE MYTH OF THE DRAGON THE LEGENDARY BEAST THAT REPRESENTED THE FORCES OF EVIL AND CHAOS BECAME lRMLY CEMENTED IN THE MINDS OF COMMON PEOPLE
!BOVE $RAGON 0ERCHED BY $ON -AITZ
3?GLR'CMPEC?LB RFC$P?EML /
!BOVE 3T 'EORGE AND THE $RAGON BY 0AOLO 5CCELLO
NE DAY AT THE DAWN OF THE FOURTH CENTURY IN THE TOWN OF 3ILENE IN ,IBYA A HUGE REPTILIAN CREATURE EMERGED FROM THE NEARBY SWAMPLANDS AND BEGAN TERRORIZING THE COUNTRYSIDE )T WAS A DRAGON WITH BAT LIKE WINGS FOUR LEGS A SPIRALING TAIL AND THICK SKIN COVERED WITH ARMORED GREEN SCALES LIKE A CROCODILES 7HEN IT OPENED ITS GAPING MOUTH FOUL GAS SPEWED FORTH POISONING EVERYTHING IT TOUCHED 0EOPLE WHO BREATHED IN THE NOXIOUS FUMES WERE DROPPED INSTANTLY ONLY TO BE DRAGGED OFF TO THE SWAMPS AND EATEN BY THE TERRIBLE BEAST 4HE KING OF 3ILENE TRIED TO CALM THE DRAGON BY FEEDING IT TWO SHEEP EACH DAY 3OON HOWEVER THE TOWN RAN OUT OF SHEEP AND THE DRAGON ONCE MORE TERRORIZED THE CITY 4HE KING DECIDED VERY RELUCTANTLY THAT THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE WAS TO SACRIlCE A CHILD EACH DAY WITH THE HOPE THAT THIS WOULD QUENCH THE DRAGONS APPETITE ! LOTTERY WAS CREATED AND EVERY CHILD UNDER BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR THE SACRIlCE 4HE KING PRAYED THAT A MIRACLE WOULD SOON SAVE THEM FROM THE EVIL MONSTER !FTER WEEKS OF FEEDING THE BEAST NO MIRACLE APPEARED 4HEN THE KINGS OWN DAUGHTER !LEYONE WAS CHOSEN BY THE LOTTERY )N THE MORNING SHE WAS TIED TO A STAKE AT THE EDGE OF THE SWAMP 4HE KING COULD ONLY WATCH HELPLESSLY IN DESPAIR !S THE PRINCESS STOOD AWAITING HER FATE SHE SUDDENLY FELT THE GROUND SHAKING UNDERFOOT "UT INSTEAD OF THE DRAGON A KNIGHT IN SILVER ARMOR WITH A CRIMSON CROSS PAINTED ON HIS BREASTPLATE CAME GALLOPING UP ON A GREAT WHITE CHARGER (E WAS ARMED WITH A LONG WICKED LOOKING LANCE AND WHITE SHIELD 4HE KNIGHT DISMOUNTED AND IDENTIlED HIMSELF (IS NAME HE SAID WAS 'EORGE (E WAS FROM EASTERN 4URKEY AND HAD BEEN A CAVALRYMAN IN THE 2OMAN ARMY BEFORE CONVERTING TO #HRISTIANITY .OW HE ROAMED THE COUNTRYSIDE ASSISTING THOSE IN NEED
4HE PRINCESS BEGGED 'EORGE TO mEE WHILE HE STILL HAD THE CHANCE )NSTEAD 'EORGE UNTIED HER (E TURNED TOWARD THE SWAMP SOMETHING LARGE WAS RUSTLING IN THE REEDS 4HEN THE DRAGON BURST FORTH DRIPPING SLIME AND ROARING IN ANGER )TS BRIGHTLY COLORED SCALES GLINTED IN THE SUNLIGHT AND ITS CORKSCREW TAIL THRASHED FROM SIDE TO SIDE 'LISTENING FANGS GNASHED IN A HUGE GAPING JAW THAT STANK OF RAW MEAT 4HE BEAST SPOTTING 'EORGE ROARED WITH FURY 'EORGE RAISED HIS LANCE TO STRIKE 3UDDENLY THE DRAGON SPREAD ITS LEATHERY WINGS 'EORGE TOOK A STEP BACK IN AMAZEMENT (E SEEMED TO BE CONFRONTED BY HUNDREDS OF EVIL EYES STARING BACK AT HIM 4HE EYE LIKE SPOTS WHICH WERE VISIBLE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE WINGS SHIMMERED AND SHOOK AS THE DRAGON ROARED NEARLY HYPNOTIZING THE KNIGHT 'EORGE SHOOK HIS HEAD REMEMBERING HIS VOW TO HELP THE WEAK 7ITH ALL HIS STRENGTH HE THRUST HIS LANCE FORWARD 4HE DRAGON ROARED AND SCREECHED MORTALLY WOUNDED IN THE NECK 'EORGE AND !LEYONE LED THE BLEEDING DRAGON BACK TO 3ILENE WHERE 'EORGE THEN BEHEADED THE BEAST IN FRONT OF THE TOWNSPEOPLE DEMONSTRATING THE POWER OF HIS FAITH AGAINST THE FORCES OF EVIL
!BOVE $EATH OF THE ,AST $RAGON BY $ON -AITZ
3CPNCLR $P?EMLQ EOPLE WHO STUDY DRAGONS ARE CALLED hDRACONTOLOGISTSv -ANY OF THESE SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT SIGHTINGS OF LARGE SNAKES LED TO THE MYTHS OF DRAGONS 4HIS MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT MANY OF THE EARLIEST DRAGON SIGHTINGS WERE OF LARGE SERPENT LIKE CREATURES 3ERPENT DRAGONS CALLED GUIVRES ARE THE EARLIEST MOST PRIMITIVE FORM OF DRAGONS ,IKE SNAKES THEY HAVE NO LIMBS AND ARE WINGLESS !LSO CALLED WORMS OR WYRMS THESE DRAGONS HAVE HORNED HEADS AND POWERFUL JAWS LIKE A CROCODILES 7ORMS MAKE THEIR HOMES NEAR BODIES OF WATER SUCH AS LAKES AND STREAMS SOMETIMES EVEN THE OCEAN -ANY WORM STORIES COME FROM %NGLAND &RANCE AND 3CANDINAVIA "UT THEIR TRUE RANGE IS WORLDWIDE 3OME .ATIVE !MERICAN TRIBES TELL THE LEGEND OF WEEWILMEKQ A HORNED SERPENT THAT RESEMBLES A GIANT LEECH 4HE "IBLE TELLS OF A SERPENT DRAGON NAMED ,EVIATHAN A GIGANTIC MONSTER THAT LIVED IN THE SEA )T WAS SO IMMENSE THAT WHEN IT THRASHED THROUGH THE WATER THE SEA BOILED BEHIND THE GREAT BEAST 3TEAM HISSED FROM ITS NOSTRILS AND CLOUDS OF SMOKE AND mAME SPEWED FROM ITS GIGANTIC JAWS .ORSE MYTHOLOGY TELLS OF A SIMILAR SERPENT *ORMUNGANDER WHOSE IMMENSE COILS CIRCLE THE ENTIRE EARTH 3OME LEGENDS OF SERPENT DRAGONS IN THE SEA MAY HAVE COME FROM SIGHTINGS OF THE OARlSH 4HESE RARE DEEP SEA CREATURES ARE LONG AND SLENDER BRIGHT YELLOW IN COLOR WITH A RAISED DORSAL lN ON THE BACK OF ITS HEAD 4HEY CAN REACH LENGTHS OF UP TO FEET M
&ACING PAGE 4HE "IBLICAL SEA SERPENT ,EVIATHAN "ELOW !N OARlSH
!BOVE ! GARGOYLE SITS ATOP .OTRE $AME #ATHEDRAL IN 0ARIS &RANCE
/NE SERPENT DRAGON THAT WAS DElNITELY NOT AN OARlSH WAS THE GARGOYLE OF 2OUEN &RANCE 4HIS MEDIEVAL TOWN IN THE YEAR WAS TERRORIZED BY A SERPENT DRAGON THAT LIVED IN THE 2IVER 3EINE 7HEN IT lRST APPEARED THE TALE SAYS IT OPENED ITS MOUTH AND GREAT JETS OF WATER SPEWED OUT mOODING THE COUNTRYSIDE -ANY PEOPLE WERE EITHER EATEN BY THE DRAGON OR DROWNED BY THE TIDAL WAVES 4HE TOWNSPEOPLE CALLED THE CREATURE THE GARGOUILLE WHICH IN THE &RENCH LANGUAGE MEANS hGARGLERv -ANY MEDIEVAL BUILDINGS SUCH AS THE CATHEDRAL OF .OTRE $AME IN 0ARIS CAN BE SEEN TODAY WITH WATER SPOUTS SHAPED LIKE GARGOYLES DESIGNED TO DRAIN AWAY RAINWATER
4FC4?JCMDRFC ,?K@RML7MPK
$
URING THE -IDDLE !GES A CURSE TERRORIZED THE SMALL VILLAGE OF 7ASHINGTON WHICH LAY NEAR THE 2IVER 7EAR IN #OUNTY $URHAM %NGLAND 4HE YEAR WAS ! BOY BY THE NAME OF *OHN ,AMBTON THE HEIR TO NEARBY ,AMBTON #ASTLE DECIDED TO GO lSHING )T WAS A 3UNDAY AND HE HAD BEEN WARNED THAT IT WAS UNLUCKY TO SKIP CHURCH BUT HE WAS DETERMINED TO WET HIS LINE AND FRITTER THE DAY AWAY 9OUNG *OHN SAT ON THE BANKS OF 2IVER 7EAR AND CAST HIS LINE "UT HE CAUGHT NO lSH THAT DAY )NSTEAD HIS ONLY CATCH WAS AN UGLY WORM WHICH DRIPPED SLIME AND HAD THE FACE OF A DEMON )N ANGER *OHN THREW THE WORM DOWN A WELL 9EARS PASSED *OHN GREW INTO A YOUNG MAN AND SOON FOUND HIMSELF lGHTING A WAR IN A DISTANT LAND -EANWHILE BACK IN THE VILLAGE SOMETHING TERRIBLE CRAWLED OUT OF THE WELL 4HE WORM *OHN HAD CAST DOWN HAD GROWN YEAR AFTER YEAR INTO A HUGE SERPENT DRAGON .OW IT LURCHED ACROSS THE LAND KILLING COWS AND
CHICKENS AND EVEN YOUNG CHILDREN )T WAS SO GIGANTIC THAT IT COULD WRAP ITSELF AROUND A NEARBY HILL NINE TIMES 7HEN *OHN RETURNED FROM THE WAR HE WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HIS KINGDOM UNDER SIEGE BY THE FOUL BEAST (E SOUGHT A FRIENDLY WITCHS ADVICE ON HOW TO SLAY THE EVIL DRAGON 3HE TOLD HIM HE COULD KILL THE DRAGON BUT ONLY IF HE WORE A SPECIAL SUIT OF ARMOR WITH SHARP BLADES BUILT ALL AROUND IT 3HE ALSO SAID THAT AFTER KILLING THE BEAST HE WOULD HAVE TO KILL THE VERY NEXT LIVING THING HE SAW OR ELSE A TERRIBLE CURSE WOULD FALL ON HIS FAMILY *OHN QUICKLY HAD THE SUIT OF ARMOR CONSTRUCTED THEN SET OUT TO DO BATTLE WITH THE ,AMBTON 7ORM )T WAS A lERCE lGHT 4HE DRAGONS POWERFUL JAWS OPENED AND SNAPPED AS THE BEAST TRIED TO BITE THE YOUNG PRINCE IN TWO "UT *OHN WAS QUICK ON HIS FEET AND SKILLFUL WITH A SWORD 3UDDENLY *OHN SLIPPED AND STUMBLED INTO THE RIVER HIS GUARD DROPPING FOR JUST A MOMENT 3EEING ITS CHANCE THE DRAGON WRAPPED ITS IMMENSE COILS AROUND THE BRAVE KNIGHT AND TRIED TO CRUSH HIM TO DEATH "UT THE TIGHTER THE DRAGON SQUEEZED THE MORE THE BLADES ENCRUSTED IN THE ARMOR SLICED INTO ITS HIDE 4HE DRAGON HOWLED IN PAIN AND SURPRISE *OHN HACKED AWAY AT THE DRAGON UNTIL lNALLY IT FELL IN SMALL PIECES INTO THE RIVER AND WAS CARRIED AWAY BY THE CURRENT *OHN HAD SAVED HIS KINGDOM FROM THE AWFUL DRAGON *OHNS FATHER THE KING WAS OVERJOYED THAT HIS SON HAD SURVIVED AND CAME BOUNDING OUT OF THE CASTLE TO GREET HIM *OHN REALIZED THAT HIS FATHER WAS THE lRST LIVING THING THAT HE HAD SEEN SINCE KILLING THE DRAGON "UT HE COULD NOT DO AS THE OLD WITCH HAD TOLD HIM )NSTEAD HE KILLED HIS MOST FAITHFUL DOG IN HOPES THAT THIS SACRIlCE WOULD BE ENOUGH )T WAS NOT &OR THE NEXT NINE GENERATIONS A CURSE FELL UPON THE ,AMBTON FAMILY %VERY HEIR TO THE THRONE MET A TRAGIC END DOOMED TO DIE FAR FROM HOME
!BOVE *OHN ,AMBTON ACCIDENTALLY HOOKS A SERPENT DRAGON
#J?QQGA?J $P?EMLQ &AR RIGHT ! WIZARD RIDES A CLASSICAL DRAGON IN $ON -AITZS "OOKED &LIGHT "ELOW $RAGONS 2UN BY FANTASY ILLUSTRATOR *ANNY 7URTS
LASSICAL $RAGONS ARE WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY HEAR THE WORD hDRAGONv 4HEY ARE ALSO CALLED HERALDIC DRAGONS 4HEY ARE lERCE REPTILIAN BEASTS 4HEY HAVE FOUR LEGS WITH TALON TIPPED FEET BAT LIKE WINGS AND A HUGE TAIL SOMETIMES TIPPED WITH A STINGER #LASSICAL DRAGONS USUALLY BREATHE lRE OR POISONOUS GAS 4HEY HAVE THICK MULTI HUED SCALES AND A HEAD LIKE A CROCODILE WITH HORNS AND RAZOR SHARP FANGS 7HEN 3AINT 'EORGE FOUGHT HIS FAMOUS DUEL IN ,IBYA IT WAS WITH A CLASSICAL DRAGON !NOTHER FAMOUS ENCOUNTER WITH THIS KIND OF DRAGON IS TOLD IN THE ANCIENT SAGA OF "EOWULF "EOWULF IS A VERY OLD EPIC POEM WRITTEN IN /LD %NGLISH IN APPROXIMATELY !$ )T TELLS THE STORY OF A MIGHTY SIXTH CENTURY 3CANDINAVIAN WARRIOR 4HE STORY BEGINS IN "EOWULF S YOUTH WHEN HE SAVED A $ANISH CITY FROM THE MONSTER 'RENDEL AND 'RENDELS WATER TROLL MOTHER "EOWULF WAS SKILLED IN BATTLE AND A WISE LEADER (E SOON BECAME KING OF THE 'EATS A TRIBE IN SOUTHERN 3WEDEN
"CMUSJD 6CPQSQRFC $P?EML
7
HEN "EOWULF BECAME AN OLDER MAN HIS LAND WAS THREATENED BY A lRE DRAGON 4HE DRAGON HAD BECOME ENRAGED WHEN ONE OF ITS TRINKETS A PIECE OF ITS TREASURE HOARD WHICH IT JEALOUSLY GUARDED IN AN UNDERGROUND LAIR WAS STOLEN BY A PEASANT .OW THE DRAGON WREAKED VENGEANCE UPON THE HUMANS LIVING NEARBY "EOWULF RUSHED TO THE CAVE OF THE DRAGON (E CALLED TO IT DEMANDING THAT IT COME OUT AND lGHT 4OGETHER WITH A FAITHFUL SERVANT "EOWULF BATTLED THE HIDEOUS BEAST 4HE DRAGON BELCHED mAMES AT THE HERO KING BUT "EOWULF WAS PROTECTED FROM BEHIND HIS MIGHTY SHIELD "EOWULF RUSHED AT THE DRAGON AND STRUCK BUT HIS SWORD BROKE AGAINST THE CREATURES SCALES !S HE REACHED FOR HIS DAGGER THE DRAGON BIT HIM IN THE NECK AND TOSSED HIM ABOUT LIKE A RAG DOLL 3UDDENLY "EOWULF S SERVANT THRUST HIS SWORD INTO THE SOFT UNDERBELLY OF THE BEAST 4HE DRAGON RELEASED "EOWULF AND HOWLED 4HE WARRIOR AND HIS SERVANT HACKED AT THE DRAGON UNTIL lNALLY IT LAY DEAD AT THEIR FEET "EOWULF WAS TRIUMPHANT OVER THE DRAGON BUT ITS BITE WAS DEADLY POISONOUS 4HE MIGHTY WARRIOR DIED ON THE SPOT VICTIM OF THE SERPENT HE HAD JUST SLAIN
2IGHT $ARKNESS AT 3ETHANON BY $ON -AITZ
3CKG $P?EMLQ EMI DRAGONS ARE A KIND OF CROSS BETWEEN CLASSICAL DRAGONS AND SERPENT DRAGONS 4HERE ARE TWO MAIN TYPES OF SEMI DRAGONS LINDORMS AND WYVERNS ,INDORMS HAVE TWO LEGS AND NO WINGS 4HEY ARE VERY SERPENT LIKE 7YVERNS ON THE OTHER HAND HAVE A PAIR OF LEGS BUT A SET OF WINGS AS WELL WHICH MAKES THEM APPEAR MORE LIKE CLASSICAL DRAGONS 4HE MOST FAMOUS LINDORM CAN BE FOUND IN THE TALE OF 3IEGFRIED AND THE SLAYING OF &AFNIR 3IEGFRIED WAS A HERO FROM ANCIENT 'ERMAN AND .ORSE LITERATURE )N ONE OF HIS ADVENTURES HE SET OUT INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE TO RETAKE THE TREASURE GUARDED BY AN ENCHANTED DRAGON NAMED &AFNIR &AFNIR WAS A TERRIBLE lRE BREATHING LINDORM DRAGON WHO STOOD WATCH OVER A VAST HOARD OF TREASURE IN A DEEP DARK CAVE (IS SCALY ARMOR WAS NEARLY IMPREGNABLE 7HEN 3IEGFRIED ARRIVED THE DRAGON WAS GONE ON HIS DAILY DRINK AT A NEARBY STREAM 3IEGFRIED DUG A PIT IN THE PATH WHERE THE DRAGON MOVED JUMPED IN AND THEN WAITED WITH HIS MAGICAL SWORD 'RAM 3OON &AFNIR CAME LUMBERING UP THE PATH 0ATIENTLY 3IEGFRIED WAITED UNTIL THE DRAGON MOVED OVER THE PIT EXPOSING HIS SOFT UNPROTECTED BELLY 3IEGFRIED THRUST HIS SWORD UP MORTALLY WOUNDING THE DRAGON &AFNIR ROARED THEN COLLAPSED DEAD GIVING UP HIS TREASURE HOARD TO THE VICTORIOUS 3IEGFRIED
&AR RIGHT 3IEGFRIED SLAYS THE LINDORM DRAGON &AFNIR "ELOW ! MAN DOES BATTLE WITH A WYVERN
!QG?L $P?EMLQ RAGONS APPEAR ALL OVER !SIA INCLUDING *APAN AND +OREA BUT ESPECIALLY IN #HINA WHERE THEY ARE THOUGHT TO BRING PROSPERITY AND GOOD FORTUNE )N #HINA THE DRAGON IS THE SUPREME BEING OF ALL CREATURES ON EARTH AND IN THE HEAVENS #HINESE DRAGONS ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THEIR COUSINS IN THE 7EST 4HEY mY BUT WITH THE USE OF MAGIC NOT WINGS )NSTEAD OF BEING ANGRY AND JEALOUS THESE DRAGONS ARE ENERGETIC AND INTELLIGENT 4HEY SYMBOLIZE POWER AND HEROISM $RAGONS OF THE %AST CAN BE FRIENDLY AND WISE 4HEY ARE NOT HATED BEASTS )NSTEAD PEOPLE LOVE AND WORSHIP THEM ESPECIALLY SINCE DRAGONS CONTROL THE RAINS AND THE SEAS &ARMERS OFTEN PRAY TO hLUNG v AS DRAGONS ARE CALLED IN #HINA ASKING FOR RAIN TO WATER THEIR CROPS -OST !SIAN DRAGONS LIVE IN THE WATER !LMOST EVERY LAKE RIVER OR POND HAS A DRAGON SPIRIT THAT DWELLS UNDER THE SURFACE %VEN TODAY DRAGON SHRINES AND ALTARS CAN BE SEEN ALONG SEASHORES AND RIVERBANKS OF MODERN #HINA AND *APAN
"ELOW ! PAINTING OF DRAGONS FROM +OREA
3YMBOLS OF DRAGONS CAN BE FOUND ALMOST EVERYWHERE IN !BOVE 4WO $RAGONS #HINA $RAGON FESTIVALS OCCUR REGULARLY INCLUDING RACES IN LARGE IN #LOUDS BY +ANO BOATS SHAPED LIKE DRAGONS $URING THE #HINESE .EW 9EAR WHICH (OGAI USUALLY TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE END OF *ANUARY AND MID &EBRUARY PEOPLE DRESS IN IMMENSE PAPER DRAGONS AND PARADE THROUGH THE STREETS %VERY YEARS OF THE #HINESE CALENDAR IS CALLED THE 9EAR OF THE $RAGON WHICH IS CONSIDERED A LUCKY YEAR 3INCE ANCIENT TIMES THE EMPEROR OF #HINA CLAIMED TO BE DESCENDED FROM DRAGONS -ANY OTHER !SIAN RULERS ALSO CLAIM TO HAVE DRAGON ANCESTORS $RAGONS BECAME A SYMBOL OF IMPERIAL POWER )N #HINA THE EMPEROR SAT ON THE hDRAGON THRONEv #ALLING AN !SIAN RULER hDRAGON FACEv MEANT THAT YOU WERE PAYING HIM A GREAT COMPLIMENT )MPERIAL DRAGONS WERE SHOWN WITH lVE CLAWS INSTEAD OF THE USUAL FOUR !NYONE BESIDES THE EMPEROR CAUGHT WITH A lVE CLAWED DRAGON EITHER IN PRINT OR SCULPTURE WAS SUBJECT TO SEVERE PENALTY EVEN DEATH 7ISE HEAVENLY ABLE TO WARD OFF EVIL SPIRITS AND PROTECTORS OF THE INNOCENT !SIAN DRAGONS ARE A SYMBOL OF -OTHER .ATURE AND BRINGERS OF LIFE AND GOOD FORTUNE
$P?EMLQ 4MB?W INCE ANCIENT TIMES DRAGONS HAVE CAPTURED PEOPLES IMAGINATION AND THIS CONTINUES TODAY IN BOOKS AND MOVIES &ROM 3HREK TO (ARRY 0OTTER DRAGONS CONTINUE TO DELIGHT AND TERRIFY US /NE OF THE MOST POPULAR NOVELS PRINTED IN IS %RAGON BY #HRISTOPHER 0AOLINI WHO WAS JUST WHEN HE STARTED WRITING THE BOOK )T TELLS THE STORY OF %RAGON A YOUNG FARM BOY WHO lNDS A MARVELOUS BLUE EGG THAT HATCHES INTO A DRAGON %RAGON RAISES THE DRAGON AND TOGETHER THEY SET OUT ON A JOURNEY OF MAGIC AND POWER 4HE VILLAIN IN *22 4OLKIENS 4HE (OBBIT IS 3MAUG A RED DRAGON WHO GUARDS THE $WARVEN RICHES DEEP WITHIN ,ONELY -OUNTAIN 4OLKIEN WROTE THIS FANTASTICAL BOOK BEFORE MOVING ON TO HIS EPIC TRILOGY 4HE ,ORD OF THE 2INGS 4OLKIENS CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS ARE A SHEER DELIGHT h4HERE HE LAY A VAST RED GOLDEN DRAGON FAST ASLEEP A THRUMMING CAME FROM HIS JAWS AND NOSTRILS AND WISPS OF SMOKE BUT HIS lRES WERE LOW IN SLUMBER "ENEATH HIM UNDER ALL HIS LIMBS AND HIS HUGE COILED TAIL AND ABOUT HIM ON ALL SIDES STRETCHING AWAY ACROSS THE UNSEEN mOORS LAY COUNTLESS PILES OF PRECIOUS THINGS GOLD WROUGHT AND UNWROUGHT GEMS AND JEWELS AND SILVER RED STAINED IN THE RUDDY LIGHTv*22 4OLKEIN 4HE (OBBIT )N lLM AND VIDEO TOO WE ENCOUNTER DRAGONS IN AN ENDLESS VARIETY FROM $RAGONHEART TO 3LEEPING "EAUTY AND FROM -ULAN TO 2EIGN OF &IRE $RAGONS SEEM TO BE A NEVER ENDING SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR lLMMAKERS $RAGON STORIES HAVE EXISTED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS ALL DESIGNED TO FRIGHTEN EDUCATE AMUSE AND ENTERTAIN US $RAGONS THE VERY SYMBOL OF MYSTERY AND POWER WILL BE WITH US ALWAYS
&AR RIGHT $RAGONS 0AWN BY FANTASY AUTHOR AND ARTIST *ANNY 7URTS
'JMQQ?PW #(!2'%2
! HORSE THAT IS RIDDEN INTO BATTLE OR IN A PARADE #253!$%3 ! SERIES OF MILITARY CAMPAIGNS THAT TOOK PLACE FROM THE TH THROUGH THE TH CENTURIES 4HE #RUSADES BEGAN AS AN EFFORT BY WESTERN %UROPEAN #HRISTIANS TO RECAPTURE -USLIM CONTROLLED *ERUSALEM 4HEY DEVELOPED INTO TERRITORIAL WARS AND INCLUDED MUCH OF THE -IDDLE %AST AS WELL AS OTHER hPAGANv AREAS SUCH AS THE "ALTIC REGION OF NORTHERN %UROPE &/,+,/2%
4HE UNWRITTEN TRADITIONS LEGENDS AND CUSTOMS OF A CULTURE &OLKLORE IS USUALLY PASSED DOWN BY WORD OF MOUTH FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION '%.2%
! TYPE OR KIND OF A WORK OF ART )N LITERATURE A GENRE IS DISTINGUISHED BY A COMMON SUBJECT THEME OR STYLE 3OME GENRES INCLUDE FANTASY SCIENCE lCTION AND MYSTERY )-0%.%42!",%
!N OBJECT OR BARRIER THAT CANNOT BE PENETRATED OR PASSED THROUGH )-02%'.!",%
! PLACE THAT IS SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CAPTURE OR ENTER BY FORCE 3OME MEDIEVAL CASTLES WERE BUILT SO STRONG THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERED TO BE IMPREGNABLE BY ENEMY ARMIES
,!)2
4HE RESTING PLACE OF A WILD ANIMAL USUALLY HIDDEN $RAGONS OFTEN HAVE LAIRS DEEP IN CAVES WHERE THEY GUARD THEIR TREASURE ,!.#%
! THRUSTING WEAPON OFTEN USED BY MEDIEVAL WARRIORS ,ANCES USUALLY CONSIST OF A LONG WOODEN SHAFT TIPPED WITH A SHARP METAL SPEARHEAD )N MEDIEVAL %UROPE KNIGHTS ARMED WITH LANCES SOMETIMES FOUGHT EACH OTHER ON HORSEBACK EITHER IN BATTLE OR IN TOURNAMENTS -!2#/ 0/,/ -ARCO 0OLO WAS A TH CENTURY MERCHANT AND EXPLORER FROM THE PRESENT DAY CITY OF 6ENICE )TALY (E WAS ONE OF THE lRST %UROPEANS TO REACH #HINA OVERLAND -%$)%6!,
3OMETHING FROM THE -IDDLE !GES -)$$,% !'%3 )N %UROPEAN HISTORY A PERIOD DElNED BY HISTORIANS AS BETWEEN !$ AND !$ -94(/,/'9
4HE STUDY OR COLLECTION OF MYTHS -YTHS ARE TRADITIONAL STORIES COLLECTED BY A CULTURE 4HEIR AUTHORS ARE ALMOST ALWAYS UNKNOWN -YTHS EXPLAIN THE ORIGIN OF MANKIND OR OF CIVILIZATIONS 4HEY ALSO EXPLAIN THE CUSTOMS OR RELIGIONS OF A PEOPLE -YTHS ARE OFTEN STORIES THAT INCLUDE THE DEEDS OF GODS AND GREAT HEROES ./23% 4HE PEOPLE LANGUAGE OR CULTURE OF 3CANDINAVIA ESPECIALLY MEDIEVAL 3CANDINAVIA 3%20%.4
! SERPENT IS A SNAKE ESPECIALLY A LARGE OR POISONOUS ONE 3,!9
4O KILL OR DESTROY VIOLENTLY 42/5"!$/52
0OET MUSICIANS OF THE TH THROUGH TH CENTURIES 4ROUBADOURS WANDERED THE COUNTRYSIDES OF &RANCE 3PAIN AND )TALY TELLING POEMS AND SINGING SONGS OF LOVE AND CHIVALRY
)LBCV !
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'EATS 'RAM 'REECE 'RENDEL
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#
)NDIA )NDONESIA )TALY
#ATHOLIC CHURCH #ENTRAL !MERICA #HINA #HINESE .EW 9EAR #ONGO 2EPUBLIC OF
$ $RAGONHEART $URHAM #OUNTY %NGLAND
% %ARTH %AST !FRICA %NGLAND %RAGON %RAGON
& &AFNIR lREBREATHING &RANCE
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.OTRE $AME #ATHEDRAL
* *APAN *ORMUNGANDER
+ +OMODO +OREA
, ,AMBTON #ASTLE ,AMBTON *OHN ,AMBTON 7ORM ,EVIATHAN ,IBYA ,ONELY -OUNTAIN ,ORD OF THE 2INGS 4HE
0
3MAUG 3WEDEN
4 4IAMAT 4OLKIEN *22 4URKEY
7 7ASHINGTON %NGLAND 7EAR 2IVER WEEWILMEKQ
0AOLINI #HRISTOPHER 9 0APUA .EW 'UINEA 9EAR OF THE $RAGON 0ARIS &RANCE 0OLO -ARCO 0OTTER (ARRY
2 2EIGN OF &IRE 2OUEN &RANCE
3 3AINT 'EORGE 3CANDINAVIA 3EINE 2IVER 3HREK 3IEGFRIED 3ILENE ,IBYA 3LEEPING "EAUTY
