Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids

Mythic Creatures | Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids

At A Glance: European Dragon
In European tales, dragons often live deep inside caves, or in marshes near places where farm animals graze. Some sleep during the day, and go on the rampage after night falls.

	May have wings
	Kills people with its fiery, poisonous breath
	Can strangle large animals with its tail
	Creeps on four legs, two legs or none

So They Say
"The dragon began to belch out flames and burn bright homesteads; there was a hot glow that scared everyone, for the vile sky-winger would leave nothing alive in his wake."

—Beowulf, AD 700-1000

Encyclopedia of Snakes and Dragons
European naturalists once considered the dragon a close relative of the snake. In this text from 1640, Ulisse Aldrovandi, a professor of natural science at the University of Bologna, discusses their habits. "Winged dragons flying through Africa," he writes, "beat enormous animals such as bulls to death with their tails."

Religious Text
The legendary dragon slayer Saint George is a popular symbol of the Christian faith. He has long been venerated in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which has roots reaching back more than 1,700 years.

During the Middle Ages, dragons became popular figures in heraldry, appearing on banners, seals and other emblems of authority and military might. Dragon-killing saints adorn coins from Christian kingdoms but can be found in the Islamic world as well. In Turkey and Syria, the dragon slayer Christians know as Saint George is sometimes revered as Al Khidr, a Muslim patron of spring and fertility.

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