Names: Dragon, Draco
Habitat: Varied mountains and caverns or underwater.
Lifespan:
over 400 years
Size: varies, but generally similar to and African elephant or small roc.
Distribution:
Europe, Middle East, Asia Minor, India, and South east Asia.
The dragon just as popular thoughtout history as the unicorn but prehaps a little more so. People. often confuse a dragon with a Wyvern or firedrake or Hydra but these are all totally diffrent types of dragons.
Breeds of Dragon
Wyvern
Wyverns are smaller (averaging about twenty feet in length) and lack the pair of forelegs that are found on the larger reptiles. These solitary carnivores prefer to inhabit mountainous terrain and forests but will stray further a field in their search for prey.
Wyverns are fierce and extremely dangerous monsters that are likely to attack any potential meals on sight. They will swoop from the sky to pounce on their target before following up the attack as necessary, biting and clawing with incredible ferocity.
Despite the arsenal of forward facing weaponry, these beasts are also known to have a sting in the tail, a sting capable of dealing an extremely deadly and fast acting poison. It makes an effective guard against rear attacks but can also be arched over the wyvern's head and used to take out opponents approaching from the front.
Western Dragon
When people hear the term dragon, they usually think of the western dragon. The western dragon is usually a large reptilian beast with bat wings and four legs. Commonly, there are two hind legs and two fore legs, and, while the dragon may walk on all four of them, the dragon can also sit back on the haunches and use its fore legs.
These dragons also tend to be highly decorated. Their crocodile-shaped heads (also referred to as Wedge-shaped) usually have horns on them or elaborate ears. They may also have spines down their back, and have thick, rudder-tails.
Most people picture western dragons as particularly cruel creatures that horde gold and torture small towns. For the most part, older stories told of dragons are fire-breathers, but some Acid-spitters as well as Ice-breathers have now been appearing. Usually, their abilities are reflected in their scales.
While some cultures felt pain towards dragons, others believed that they were superior beings that would bring gifts to you if you managed to slay one. For instance, some say that if you eat a heart of a dragon, you will understand the birds. Other things include rubbing dragon's blood against the skin, which supposedly protected you from stab wounds, and eating a dragons tongue, which allocated you the power to win any fight of words.
Viking used to have dragons along the sides of their boats, and there are many English crests and coat of arms that feature dragons upon them. Today, their symbol is still strong. The Welsh flag has a red dragon on it.
Eastern Dragon
PHYSIOLOGY: These three species of dragons look very similar, but come from different parts of the world. They all have sinuous serpentine bodies, have four legs, they do not usually breath fire, usually shown not to have wings, but are illustrated to have them which is the Adult Imperial Dragon. The dragons are said to be made up of many different types of animals of the Earth: the body of a snake, scales of a carp (fish), head of a camel, horns of a giant stag (deer), the eyes of a hare (rabbit), ears like a bull, a neck like an snake, belly of a clam, paws like a tigers, and claws like an eagle. Most of the time they are shown to have a lion-type mane around its neck, on its chin, and on each elbow. They have two antler-type horns decorating their wide-mouthed head, and two long "feeler" whiskers spreading out from their snout. Eastern dragons have 117 scales, 81 infused with yang, the good, and 36 infused with yin, the bad. This evens out the dragons temper and personality.
There are three families of Eastern dragons: 3 toed, 4 toed, and 5 toed. Three toed dragons are Japanese. Four toed dragons are Indonesian or Korean. Five toed dragons are Chinese. They are shown in the colors blue, black, white, red, or yellow. Oriental dragons are usually shown with a pearl in their mouth, under their chin, or in their claws. This is apparently where the dragon gets its power, and how it ascends to heaven. Roasted swallows are the Chinese dragon's favorite food.
HISTORY: In China dragons are known as Lung. There are four main kinds of Lung: Tien-lung , The Celestial Dragon: who protect the places of the Gods, Shen-Lung, The Spiritual Dragon: who control the wind and the rain, Ti-Lung , The Earth Dragon which control rivers, and water on the Earth, and Fut's-Lung , The Underworld Dragon which guards precious metals and gems. Separate dragons control the rivers of the North, South, East and West. The commander of all the River Dragons is Great Chien-Tang who is blood red, has a firey mane, and is 900 feet long.
Eastern dragons are portrayed as good, kind, and intelligent. Oriental Dragons have the most recorded history in the world, especially in China going back thousands of years. In history they have a very close link to the weather. It is said that some of the worst flooding in Asia's History were caused when a mortal has upset a dragon. In Chinese history, the 5 toed dragon is the symbol of power, and are considered "Imperial Dragons". Long ago, it became law in China that only the Emperor could have a five-clawed dragon displayed on his robes or illustrated on anything the Emperor owned. It was usually a Yellow dragon, thought to be the most superior of all the colored dragons. If someone other than the Emperor was caught wearing the symbol of the 5-toed dragon, he was put to death. More about the Chinese Dragon.
Eastern dragons are still shown in parades around the world celebrating the Chinese New Year with the Dragon Dance.
Faerie Dragon
PHYSIOLOGY: Very small dragons, being only 1'-5' long, any color, with large eyes, and large butterfly-type wings. These dragons are vegetarian as they only eat fruit, vegetables, nuts, and so on.
HISTORY: These are the rarest of all the dragon, as only a few have ever been reported. Some myths might come from some large butterflies that are around the world. It is said in legend that these dragons sometimes carry faeries from city to city. Since only a few have ever been seen, the history of these types of dragons are next to none.
Hydra
These are dragons which have multiple necks and heads. They may or may not have wings or legs.
The Hydra which lived in the swamps near to the ancient city of Lerna in Argolis, was a terrifying monster which like the Nemean lion was the offspring of Echidna (half maiden - half serpent), and Typhon (had 100 heads), other versions think that the Hydra was the offspring of Styx and the Titan Pallas. The Hydra had the body of a serpent and many heads (the number of heads deviates from five up to one hundred there are many versions but generally nine is accepted as standard), of which one could never be harmed by any weapon, and if any of the other heads were severed another would grow in its place (in some versions two would grow). Also the stench from the Hydra's breath was enough to kill man or beast (in other versions it was a deadly venom). When it emerged from the swamp it would attack herds of cattle and local villagers, devouring them with its numerous heads. It totally terrorized the vicinity for many years.
Heracles journeyed to Lake Lerna in a speedy chariot, and with him he took his nephew and charioteer Iolaus, in search of the dreaded Hydra. When they finally reached the Hydras' hiding place, Heracles told Iolaus to stay with the horses while he drew the monster from its hole with flaming arrows. This brought out the hideous beast. Heracles courageously attacked the beast, flaying at each head with his sword, (in some versions a scythe) but he soon realized that as one head was severed another grew in its place. Heracles called for help from Iolaus, telling him to bring a flaming torch, and as Heracles cut off the heads one by one from the Hydra, Iolaus cauterized the open wounds with the torch preventing them from growing again. As Heracles fought the writhing monster he was almost stifled by its obnoxious breath, but eventually, with the help of Iolaus, Heracles removed all but one of the Hydras' heads. The one remaining could not be harmed by any weapon, so, picking up his hefty club Heracles crushed it with one mighty blow, he then tore off the head with his bare hands and quickly buried it deep in the ground, placing a huge boulder on the top. After he had killed the Hydra, Heracles dipped the tips of his arrows into the Hydras' blood, which was extremely poisonous, making them deadly.
Other versions say that while Heracles fought the Hydra the goddess Hera sent down a giant crab which attacked his feet). This legend comes from a marble relief dating from the 2nd century BCE found at ancient Lerna, showing Heracles attacking the Hydra, and near his feet is a huge crab. Also other legends say that a stray arrow set alight the forest, and it was the burning trunks which Heracles ripped up and used to cauterize the open wounds.
Amphiptere : Am-fih-teer
PHYSIOLOGY: These are dragons with only wings.
Amphiptere:
These dragons are wide spread, originating in the Americas and, in later years, dispersing their lineage worldwide. While the amphiptere (also spelt "amphithetre") is known throughout the Americas, they have also been sighted guarding frankincense trees in Arabia and in the wilderness of Africa, the Middle East and even so far as Britain (Dragon Fantastic, 2001). Edward Topsell, quoted in The Elizabethian Zoo (1979) wrote of dragon kind (pertaining to dragons in general):
They doe not onely live on the land... but also swimme in the water, for many times they take the Sea in Ethyopia, foure or five of them together, folding theyr tayles like hurdles, and holding up their heads, so swim they over to seeke better foode in Arabia. (p. 154.)
Timid by nature, the amphiptere has been known to hide at the sight of villagers and travellers (Nigg, 2002), though this does not make it shy away from prey animals, which it will jump down upon from trees. This type of dragon has also been called the Jaculus or "javelin snake" in recognition of its hunting prowess (Amphiptere [eaudry.com], 2004; White, 1969).
The amphiptere is famed for knowing every secret of the world, perhaps because as a earthen-based serpent-dragon they are closely associated with nature and the primal forces that drive the natural order. The old saying, "never look into the eyes of a dragon" possibly originated from the amphiptere as its large eyes are said to hold hypnotic powers (Dragon Fantastic, 2001) (although not a lethal glance like that of the basilisk). The body parts of these dragons are rumoured to hold strange properties; an amphiptere tooth planted into the ground can morph into a soldier ready for battle, and its blood endows the drinker with the ability to speak in the tongue of the beasts. A potion of dried amphiptere eyes mixed with honey are said to cure even the most agonising migraine (Dragon Fantastic, 2001).
The amphiptere looks very similar in appearance to a large serpent; because most of these dragons lack legs, its sinuous shape is similar to that of an oversized snake. However, amphipteres are distinguished from their reptilian cousins by their crowning feathered plumage which also earns them their title as feathered serpents; with their shiny sky-blue feathers which are those of a raxom (a bird often associated with the quetzal bird [Pharomachrus mocinno] and sometimes called the Cotinga amabilis), and the green feathers from the tail of a quetzal bird, the amphiptere is truly a unique type of dragon (Hunt, 1999).
...and with most bright and cleere-seeing eyes, which caused the Poets to faine in their writings, that these dragons are the watchful-keepers of Treasures. They also have two dewlappes growing under their chinne, and hanging down like a beard... (Edward Topsell in The Elizabethian Zoo, 1979, p. 151).
These dragons throughout Mesoamerica were called or associated with "Plumed (or Feathered) Serpents", reminiscent of their multi-coloured feathered wings and the plume many have atop their dragon heads. They also have a rooster's wattle under their chin, and some possess a pair of short forelegs.
Feathered serpents have appeared frequently over American temples in association with religious rites, notably on the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacán (Bahn, 1997).
The Feathered Serpents were interchangeable with Fire Serpents; in this way they represented the searing desert heat, while in their original state they were a symbol of life and food-bearing vegetation (Hunt, 1999). Despite their ties to the natural world, their representative Sovereign Plumed Serpent was present in Mesoamerican creation as a "great knower and thinker" (Littleton, 2002), a quote from the Quiché Mayan text Popol Vuh which is applicable to all amphipteres who are famed for their quiet knowledge and wisdom.
However, the most famous amphiptere is undoubtedly the Aztec Quetzalcoatl, who helped in the creation and development of many worldly things to benefit the gods and mankind (Littleton, 2002), some of which are outlined in the Mythology.
Pern Dragon
PHYSIOLOGY: These dragons have four legs, and two wings. They have smooth, leathery skin without scales. The dragons eyes are compound and faceted like a fly's that can change color depending on the mood of the dragon. They have a telepathic abilities with other dragons, and their rider. Pernese dragons can also teleport into "between", which is a void, to escape danger. Gold and green dragons are Female. Bronze, brown and blue are Male. They can breath fire by first swallowing a certain type of flammable rock known as Firestone. Read more about Pernese Dragons.
HISTORY: The colonists of Pern (A world created from the stories by Anne McCaffrey) genetically engineered these huge dragons from their small cousins, Firelizards. Pernese dragons and their riders have a life-long relationship, this is started at the Impression. This is when the dragons hatch and choose their human partner. If the human partner dies without the dragon, the dragon will go between permanently. If the dragon dies, the human usually wastes away until they pass on.
