Where did the idea of Dragons originate?

Question

Where did the idea of Dragons originate and why do nearly all world ethnic cultures have them? Also share any knowledge of the different types and forms throughout history and their significance to their respective cultures.

Answer 1

:) I like your question so here is a product of some of my research, including three theories, the "Serpent Theory," the "Bones Theory," and the "Evolutionary Theory."

Serpent Theory

Many people believe that the origination of dragons came from serpents. Rather, they came from snakes and eels that people saw. As time went on and art evolved, these serpents became more and more decorated until they looked more like semi-Chinese dragons or sea serpents.

It is also suggested that people saw mutated eels and snakes or thought that some of their surroundings (i.e. for eels, seaweed, for snakes, sticks) were actually a part of them. Thus making them look as if they were draconic. This actually suggest that dragons were formed out of the misinterpretation of artwork, stories, and sights throughout the ages. Possible? Yes. It isn't as if they had cameras!

Bones Theory

This theory pertains to the remains that people found and called "dragon bones" so it definitely holds no water in battle of where the term dragon came from. However, it does provided an interesting idea that people thought the bones of dinosaurs to be dragons, and they though dragons to be descendants (or parents) to such serpents as the snake and lizard. The Bones Theory suggests that people found the bones and created stories about the fierce creatures that once lived within those bones.

Sadly, this theory is lacking when it comes to civilizations as China and other Asian dragons. Due to their unscientific structures, Chinese dragons and Asian dragons could never have originated from seeing bones. On the other hand, one might think that they either adapted the bones to the dragons or they only found some bones. Whichever the case, this theory is not as likely as the Serpent Theory.

Evolutionary Theory

Well, here it is. The evolutionary theory of dragons is the grimmest. Dragons once lived, but, as they evolved, they, instead of improving, began to die off. The Evolutionary Theory suggests that only one "ruling" species can exist on Earth (or one planet) at one time. As dragons died off, it was because of humans. Not due to hunting, nor hatred, but rather to having one civilization rise above the other. And, as the other grows weaker and weaker, the other grows stronger and stronger.

Well, are there any Aztecs left? Descendants, yes, but real Aztecs that once ruled all of Mexico? No, sadly. Just as our cultures fall, so did the dragon culture. As the human race began to develop the earth to its own needs, the dragon's lost their world. The Evolutionary Theory is not a guilt trip, though. It suggests that this is the natural way with things, and that one day, mankind will have to step aside.

Answer 2

Origin Of Dragons

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Where did the idea of Dragons originate?
Where did the idea of Dragons originate and why do nearly all world ethnic cultures have them? Also share any knowledge of the different types and forms throughout history and their significance to their respective cultures.

Answer 4

This goes back in origin to the ancient Sumerian tablets. Many scholars have said that most religions and mythologies can be traced back in origin to the ancient Sumerian gods and texts. These are the oldest known writings.

The god Eniki also called Ea or Ae ruled the lower world, (land below the equator), and was the god of the waters, the earth and was creator of man. His emblem was a serpent a symbol for wisdom and medicine. As years passed and the stories were passed on orally before being written down again by other cultures, this god came to be called the serpent god and was symbolized by a winged serpent. ancient religions all over the world worshiped the winged serpent which later became a dragon.

Answer 5

A common theory is that the mythology began from ancient people finding dinosaur bones and creating dragons as a way to explain the existence of the bones.

Answer 6

Dinosaurs.

Different civilizations found partial skeletons of Dinosaurs. They filled in the gaps of their knowledge with myths and stories.

The Greeks did the same with pygmy elephant skulls they found on cypress. They assumed the large nasal cavity was an eye cavity. And that's where cyclops myth comes from.

Chinese mythical lions look nothing like real lions.

It's human nature to fill in the gaps with the fantastical.

Sorry if I ruined the fun.

Answer 7

The Bible. Before that pagan religions used the Patheon of Dragonwright to worship too. Dragons are orginal pagan gods of the Norse

Answer 8

Dinosaurs

Answer 9

the ancients found old dinosaur bones and I would say they look like dragons if you put one together the wrong way in fact the Greeks found fossils of giant sloths that went extinct long ago when put together in the wrong way look allot like a human giant hence the legends of giants being as common as dragons

Answer 10

Man has always been curious about the fossils they would find in the earth. So with limited knowledge their finds would enter folklore. Dinosaur lived the world over so every culture would have experienced a fossil find.