2006-12-04 03:13:09 · 16 answers · asked by Child Of The Moon 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Mythical reptillian beasts that often could fly and breath fire.
In diffrent cultures there are diffrent interpratations about dragons but this summery covers most.
2006-12-04 03:18:46 · answer #1 · answered by Timothy C 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is a very interesting question. Traditionally dragons were some flying scaled beasties with wingspans to dwarf anything you could imagine. Some breathed fire, others ice, there are many mythical incarnations - too many to name. Mostly, they were just stories which evolved from fossils such as the terradactyl (sp?) and myths and legends passed down from generation to generation. The Chinese were huge believers in dragons, and to this day the dragon forms a huge part of their culture.
These days, the only dragons you will find are "Komodo Dragons" - these are incredible powerful 'giant' monitor lizards who can take down very large prey. However, they do not fly, nor do they breathe fire. But what they do have is a saliva which is so potent that it can bring on septasemia (sp?) very quickly - it's used to break down the carcass of their kill and digest things in an efficient manor.
If you want an incredible fantasy trilogy to invoke your imagination, try reading "The Dragons of.." trilogy by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. It is unbelievably good. Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night & Dragons of Summer Flame. The first book is being adapted into a Animated movie with Kiefer Sutherland as the voice of the mysterious Raistlin.
You can also keep your eyes peeled for Eragon, soon to hit the cinemas, although this is much more child friendly than the Dragons of.. trilogy.
2006-12-04 11:26:40 · answer #2 · answered by Rhythm * 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dragons are one of the universal myths that transcend all cultures.
What varies is what they look like, if they have wings, what they breath out, and whether or not they are fearsome or something to respect.
Evolution is a science born of facts, rather than a hopeful belief born of a few books that are only 3300 years old. People don't have to like how old the planet is.... that changes nothing except our view of their relative intelligence.
That being said, Dinosaur remains are a likely explanation for 'Dragons' throughout the human populations mythos. Chinese Dragons were said to symbolize 'Kingship' and indeed the number of toes drawn on a Dragon identifies it as either a 'Dragon' or an "Imperial Dragon'. Japanese Dragons were linked there as well. Pacific Island dragons were more of a creature, and European Dragons were feared as creatures of destruction.
Dragons in Western European history took a weird turn as they became associated somehow with the Devil or 'Evil Incarnate'. Most of this came about as 'Heroic Knights' charged all over Europe looking for anything to defeat to prove their 'Chivalry'. A bunch of shiny steel toasters with long pokey sticks all looking for a new target. Stories of knights defeating dragons began popping up just as fast as stories of alchemists turning lead into gold.
I personally find Dragons to be what they were identified with originally...... "Guardians"... some of treasures unknown, other of vast storehouses of knowledge.
The mythos of them is old and sometime beautiful.... only the later Christians messed it all up as they wanted to burn and destroy anything that did not fit into the "view" of their pathetic little world.
This even included other Christians after they ran out of 'Pagan Targets"..... the "Dragon" was among the first to be demonized..... but certainly not the last....
2006-12-04 12:11:36 · answer #3 · answered by wolf560 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
drag·on (drgn) KEY
NOUN:
A mythical monster traditionally represented as a gigantic reptile having a lion's claws, the tail of a serpent, wings, and a scaly skin.
A fiercely vigilant or intractable person.
Something very formidable or dangerous.
Any of various lizards, such as the Komodo dragon or the flying lizard.
Archaic A large snake or serpent.
2006-12-04 11:22:29 · answer #4 · answered by NVMYNOX 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well...the most amazing and 'convincing' theory that I've heard about dragons is the one given in the DVD 'Dragons: a fantasy made real' produced by the National Geographic; check it out;)
2006-12-04 12:40:27 · answer #5 · answered by Love_my_Cornish_Knight❤️ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Komo Dragon's
Lizards!!!
Wahoo!!!
2006-12-04 11:21:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do an internet search for "dragons in the Bible" even if you are not Christian, you will find it interesting that dinosaurs are in the Bible.
2006-12-04 11:55:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is supposed to be the only non insect creature that has six extremities. Four legs and a couple of wings. A flying lizard.
2006-12-04 11:39:34 · answer #8 · answered by sofista 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dinosaurs.
2006-12-04 11:26:34 · answer #9 · answered by jaime r 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flying dinosaurs. AKA pterodactyls. Since the world isn't as old as the evolutionists want you to believe, they exist in the consciousness of man.
2006-12-04 11:17:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋