$P?EMLQ
BY*OHN(AMILTON
6)3)453!4 777!"$/05"#/0UBLISHEDBY!"$/0UBLISHING#OMPANY 6IKING$RIVE 3UITE %DINA -INNE...
108 downloads
2145 Views
1MB Size
Report
This content was uploaded by our users and we assume good faith they have the permission to share this book. If you own the copyright to this book and it is wrongfully on our website, we offer a simple DMCA procedure to remove your content from our site. Start by pressing the button below!
Report copyright / DMCA form
$P?EMLQ
BY*OHN(AMILTON
6)3)453!4 777!"$/05"#/0UBLISHEDBY!"$/0UBLISHING#OMPANY 6IKING$RIVE 3UITE %DINA -INNESOTA #OPYRIGHTÚBY!BDO#ONSULTING'ROUP )NC)NTERNATIONALCOPYRIGHTSRESERVEDINALLCOUNTRIES .OPARTOFTHISBOOKMAYBEREPRODUCEDINANYFORMWITHOUTWRITTENPERMISSIONFROMTHEPUBLISHER !"$/$AUGHTERSISATRADEMARKANDLOGOOF!"$/0UBLISHING#OMPANY 0RINTEDINTHE5NITED3TATES %DITOR0AUL*OSEPH 'RAPHIC$ESIGN*OHN(AMILTON #OVER$ESIGN4$) #OVER)LLUSTRATION,ORDOFTHE3KIES Ú$ON-AITZ )NTERIOR0HOTOSAND)LLUSTRATIONSP$RAGONSONTHE3EAOF.IGHTDETAIL Ú$ON-AITZP#HINESE DRAGON #ORBISP,ORDOFTHE3KIES Ú$ON-AITZPP $RAGONSONTHE3EAOF.IGHT Ú $ON-AITZP4AKENTO4ASK Ú*ANNY7URTSPUPPERLEFT+OMODODRAGON #ORBISBOTTOM BOACONSTRICTOR -ARY%VANS0ICTURE,IBRARYP)T4AKES#OURAGE Ú$ON-AITZP-ARDUK BATTLING4IAMAT -ARY%VANS0ICTURE,IBRARYP$RAGON0ERCHED Ú$ON-AITZP3T'EORGE ANDTHE$RAGONBY0AOLO5CCELLO #ORBISP$EATHOFTHE,AST$RAGON Ú$ON-AITZPOARlSH -ARY%VANS0ICTURE,IBRARYP,EVIATHAN -ARY%VANS0ICTURE,IBRARYPGARGOYLE #ORBISP *OHN,AMBTON -ARY%VANS0ICTURE,IBRARYP$RAGONS2UN Ú*ANNY7URTSP"OOKED&LIGHT Ú$ON-AITZPP $ARKNESSAT3ETHANON Ú$ON-AITZPWYVERN #ORBISP 3IEGFRIEDSLAYS&AFNIR #ORBISP+OREANDRAGONS #ORBISP4WO$RAGONSIN#LOUDSBY+ANO(OGAI #ORBISP$RAGONS0AWN Ú*ANNY7URTSP3TRONGHOLD Ú$ON-AITZ
,IBRARYOF#ONGRESS#ATALOGING IN 0UBLICATION$ATA (AMILTON *OHN n $RAGONS*OHN(AMILTON PCM&ANTASYFOLKLORE )NCLUDESINDEX )3". $RAGONS)4ITLE
'2$( gDC
#/.4%.43 $RAGON4ALES 4HE/RIGINOF$RAGONS %ARLY$RAGON&OLKLORE 3T'EORGEANDTHE$RAGON 3ERPENT$RAGONS 4HE4ALEOFTHE,AMBTON7ORM #LASSICAL$RAGONS "EOWULF6ERSUSTHE$RAGON 3EMI $RAGONS !SIAN$RAGONS $RAGONS4ODAY 'LOSSARY )NDEX
$ $P?EML 4?JCQ RAGONS OFALLTHEBEASTSOFMYTHOLOGY ARETHEMOST RECOGNIZEDANDWIDESPREAD4HEYVEAPPEARED COUNTLESSTIMESINFOLKLORE PAINTINGS ANDMOVIES 4HEYPOPULATEANENTIREGENREOFFANTASYLITERATURE $RAGONSREPRESENTMANYTHINGSTOMANYPEOPLE4HESE LEGENDARYMONSTERSCANBEMYSTERIOUSANDTERRIFYING4HEYARE OFTENKNOWNASlREBREATHINGSYMBOLSOFEVILANDCHAOS"UTTHEY CANALSOBEWISEANDHEROIC BRINGERSOFRAINANDGOODFORTUNE $RAGONSARECOMMONINMANYCULTURESWORLDWIDE4HEYCAN BEFOUNDINTHEFOLKLITERATUREOF%NGLAND &RANCE 3CANDINAVIA 'REECE )NDIA ANDEVEN#ENTRAL!MERICA4HEYAREVERYPOPULAR IN!SIA ESPECIALLY#HINAAND*APAN-ARCO 0OLOREPORTEDSEEINGDRAGONSDURINGHIS TRIPTO#HINAINTHETHCENTURY 4HE%NGLISHWORDDRAGONCOMESFROM THE'REEKWORDDRAKONORDRACA WHICH MEANSSERPENT$RAGONSCOMEINMANY SHAPESANDSIZES4HEYAREUSUALLYHUGE SOMEBIGGERTHANANELEPHANT-OSTARE COVEREDINRED GOLD GREEN ORREDSCALES WHICHCANBEPIERCEDBYONLYTHESHARPEST SWORD
,EFT!#HINESEDRAGON &ARRIGHT$ON-AITZS,ORDOFTHE3KIES
h(EREBEDRAGONSvEARLY%UROPEANMAPMAKERS
$RAGONSHAVELONG POISONOUSFANGS ANDRAZOR SHARPTALONS4HEYHAVEHORNED HEADSANDINTELLIGENT REPTILIANEYES 7ESTERNCLASSICALDRAGONSAREUSUALLY EQUIPPEDWITHHUGE BATLIKEWINGS!SIAN DRAGONSALSOmY BUTMAGICALLY WITHOUTTHE USEOFWINGS -ANYDRAGONSHAVEASPECIALGLAND INTHEIRTHROATS WHICHALLOWSTHEMTO EXHALElRE&IREBREATHINGISOFTENUSEDAS AWARNING BUTCANALSOSERVEASAPOTENT WEAPONOFATTACK $RAGONSHAVEMANYMAGICALPOWERS %VENINDEATH THEIRBODIESAREPRIZEDBY WIZARDSANDWARRIORS%ATTHEHEARTOFA DRAGON ANDYOUCANMAGICALLYUNDERSTAND THELANGUAGEOFANIMALS3KINBRUSHED WITHTHEBLOODOFADRAGONBECOMES IMPERVIOUSTOSWORDSORKNIVES3CATTERTHE TEETHOFADRAGONUPONTHEGROUND AND SUDDENLYANARMYOFSKELETONWARRIORSISAT YOURCOMMAND -OSTDRAGONSARECONTENTTOJEALOUSLY GUARDTHEIRTREASUREHOARDS WHICHARE USUALLYHIDDENINLAIRSDEEPUNDERGROUND "UTWHENPROVOKED DRAGONSBEATTHEAIR WITHTHEIRWINGSANDTAKEmIGHT LAYING WASTETOTHECOUNTRYSIDEINAlREBREATHING RAGE/NLYTHEBRAVESTWARRIORKNIGHTS STANDACHANCEAGAINSTSUCHTERRIFYING MONSTERS
,EFT&ANTASYILLUSTRATOR$ON-AITZS $RAGONSONTHE3EAOF.IGHT
4FC/PGEGL MD$P?EMLQ REDRAGONSREAL ORMERELYFOLKTALES)SITPOSSIBLE THATARACEOFGIANT WINGEDLIZARDSONCEEXISTED -ANYPEOPLETHINKSO ORATLEASTTHINKITSPOSSIBLE $RAGONMYTHSCANBEFOUNDINMANYDIFFERENT CULTURESONALMOSTEVERYCONTINENTON%ARTH)TWOULDBETOO MUCHOFACOINCIDENCE MANYPEOPLESAY FORTHESAMElCTIONAL CREATURETOSHOWUPINSOMANYSTORIES 3OMEPEOPLEGUESSTHATDRAGONSMAYBEHUMANKINDSANCIENT MEMORIESOFDINOSAURS4HISSEEMSHIGHLYUNLIKELY THOUGH $INOSAURSDIEDOUTMILLIONSOFYEARSBEFOREPEOPLEWALKEDTHE EARTH%VENTHEEARLIESTPREHISTORICPEOPLECOULDNTHAVEAMEMORY OFADINOSAUR /THERSTHINKTHATDRAGONSWEREARACEOFGIANTREPTILIANBEASTS THATLIVEDAFTERTHEDINOSAURS DYINGOUTJUSTASHUMANCIVILIZATION BEGANTOSPREAD-OSTSCHOLARSARESKEPTICALOFTHISTHEORYALSO !NCIENTHUMANSPAINTEDAGREATMANYNOW EXTINCTANIMALSON THEWALLSOFCAVES9OUCANSTILLSEETHESEPAINTINGSTODAYINPLACES LIKE&RANCEAND)TALY4HEIMAGESINCLUDEWOOLYMAMMOTHS WOOLYRHINOCEROSES BISON LIONSBUTNODRAGONS OREVEN ANYTHINGRESEMBLINGAGIANTSERPENT
&ARRIGHT4AKENTO 4ASK BYFANTASY ARTIST*ANNY7URTS
!BOVE!+OMODO DRAGON
2IGHT!TH CENTURYILLUSTRATION OFAGIANTBOA CONSTRICTOR ATTACKINGAGROUPOF BOATMENIN)NDIA &ARRIGHT)T4AKES #OURAGE BY$ON -AITZ
3OMEOFTHEEARLIESTDRAGONTALESCANBETRACEDTOTHE-IDDLE %ASTANDSURROUNDINGAREAS WHICHAREKNOWNFORLARGESERPENTS 3OMEEXPLORERSTHINKAGIANTREPTILE PERHAPSASURVIVINGDINOSAUR STILLEXISTSINTHEWILD JUSTWAITINGTOBEDISCOVERED!FTERALL THE MOUNTAINGORILLASOF%AST!FRICAWEREUNKNOWNTOSCIENCEUNTIL !NDIN A$UTCHARMYOFlCERBROUGHTNEWSOFA FOOT M LONGhDRAGONvONTHEISLANDOF+OMODO IN)NDONESIA /FCOURSE THESEARENTREALDRAGONSTHEYREMONITORLIZARDS 3TILL THEYRETHELARGESTLIZARDSONTHEPLANET ANDTHENAMESTUCK 4ODAYTHEYREKNOWNAS+OMODODRAGONS 7ITHSUCHDISCOVERIESINMIND SEVERALDRAGON HUNTING EXPEDITIONSHAVEFOCUSEDONTHEDEEP ALMOSTIMPENETRABLE JUNGLESOFTHE2EPUBLICOF#ONGO INCENTRAL!FRICA ASWELLASTHE MYSTERIOUSFORESTSOF0APUA.EW'UINEA3OFAR THEEXPLORERS HAVERETURNEDEMPTY HANDED 0ERHAPSCROCODILES ALLIGATORS GIGANTICSNAKES OREVENWHALES HELPEDSTARTTHEMYTHOFDRAGONS%VENTODAY HUGEREPTILES STRIKETERRORINTOTHEHEARTSOFMANYPEOPLE)N$ECEMBER VILLAGERSIN)NDONESIAWEREREPORTEDTOHAVECAPTUREDAPYTHON THATMEASUREDFEETLONGM ANDWEIGHEDPOUNDS KG ,AIDOUTENDTOEND THESNAKEWOULDBEABOUTONEAND AHALFTIMESASLONGASACITYBUS)MAGINEAPERSONFROMANEARLIER TIMEENCOUNTERINGSUCHABEAST THENRUNNINGEXCITEDLYBACKTO HISVILLAGETOTELLOFHISNARROWESCAPEFROMTHEhDRAGONv
%?PJW $P?EML &MJIJMPC VIDENCEHASNOTYETBEENFOUNDOFREALDRAGONS 0ERHAPSTHEYEXISTONLYINOURIMAGINATIONS2EAL ORNOT MOSTSCHOLARSBELIEVETHATTHEDRAGONSWE KNOWTODAYCOMEFROMFOLKLORE0EOPLELOVETOTELL STORIES ANDTHEYESPECIALLYLIKETOCREATEMONSTERSTHATHEROESCAN CONQUER$RAGONSSPARKOURIMAGINATION4HEYREPRESENTCHAOS WHICHISTHEDISORDERTHATRULEDTHEWORLDBEFORECIVILIZATION&OLK TALESABOUTDRAGONSSHOWUSANEVILTHATMUSTBEVANQUISHED4HE DRAGONMUSTBEDEFEATEDINORDERFORCIVILIZATIONTOSPREAD 3OMESCHOLARSTRACETHEDRAGONMYTHTOANCIENT"ABYLON YEARSAGO!"ABYLONIANCREATIONMYTHEXPLAINSHOW THEEARTHBEGAN)NTHETALE 4IAMATWASAGIANTSEADRAGON REPRESENTINGTHESALTWATEROCEANANDTHE FORCESOFCHAOS4IAMATWASEVENTUALLY SLAINBYTHEYOUNGGOD-ARDUK4HE DRAGONSBODYWASCHOPPEDINTWO CREATINGTHESKYANDTHEEARTH&ROMTHE DRAGONSBLOOD-ARDUKCREATEDTHElRST HUMANS !SCIVILIZATIONSPREAD SOTOODIDTALES OFDRAGONS"UTHOWDIDTHEDRAGONMYTHS EXPANDOUTSIDETHE-IDDLE%AST(OWDID FAR mUNGAREASLIKETHE"RITISH)SLESDEVELOP
"ELOW-ARDUK THE"ABYLONIANSUN GOD BATTLESTHE MONSTER4IAMAT
SUCHARICHTRADITION OFSTORIESABOUTlRE BREATHING WINGED SERPENTS/NE ANSWERCANBEFOUND INTHEMOSTFAMOUS DRAGONSTORYOFALL THETALEOF3AINT 'EORGE 'EORGEWAS AREALPERSON 7HETHERORNOT HEACTUALLYSLEW HISNOTORIOUS DRAGON WELLNEVER KNOW"UTYEARS AFTERHISDEATH HEWASGRANTED SAINTHOODBYTHE #ATHOLICCHURCH ANDHISLEGEND GREW%UROPEAN CRUSADERSOFTHE TH TH ANDTH CENTURIESUSEDHIS STORYASANEXAMPLE OF#HRISTIANFAITH OVERCOMINGGREAT OBSTACLES4HE DRAGONREPRESENTEDTHEFORCESOFEVIL !SCRUSADERSRETURNEDHOMEFROMTHE-IDDLE%AST THEY BROUGHTWITHTHEMTHESTORYOF3AINT'EORGE ANDESPECIALLY THEBATTLEAGAINSTTHEDRAGON'EORGEEVENTUALLYBECAMEA PATRONSAINTOF%NGLAND(ISSLAYINGOFTHEDRAGONBECAMEA VERYPOPULARSYMBOLINFOLKLITERATURE SHOWINGUPFREQUENTLY INPAINTINGSANDBOOKS4ROUBADOURSOFTHETHCENTURYSANG HISSTORY ANDTHEMYTHOFTHEDRAGON THELEGENDARYBEASTTHAT REPRESENTEDTHEFORCESOFEVILANDCHAOS BECAMElRMLYCEMENTED INTHEMINDSOFCOMMONPEOPLE
!BOVE$RAGON 0ERCHED BY$ON -AITZ
3?GLR'CMPEC?LB RFC$P?EML /
!BOVE3T'EORGE ANDTHE$RAGON BY 0AOLO5CCELLO
NEDAY ATTHEDAWNOFTHEFOURTH CENTURY INTHETOWNOF3ILENE IN ,IBYA AHUGE REPTILIANCREATUREEMERGED FROMTHENEARBYSWAMPLANDSANDBEGAN TERRORIZINGTHECOUNTRYSIDE)TWASA DRAGON WITHBAT LIKEWINGS FOURLEGS A SPIRALINGTAIL ANDTHICKSKINCOVEREDWITH ARMOREDGREENSCALES LIKEACROCODILES 7HENITOPENEDITSGAPINGMOUTH FOUL GASSPEWEDFORTH POISONINGEVERYTHING ITTOUCHED0EOPLEWHOBREATHEDINTHE NOXIOUSFUMESWEREDROPPEDINSTANTLY ONLYTOBEDRAGGEDOFFTO THESWAMPSANDEATENBYTHETERRIBLEBEAST 4HEKINGOF3ILENETRIEDTOCALMTHEDRAGONBYFEEDINGITTWO SHEEPEACHDAY3OON HOWEVER THETOWNRANOUTOFSHEEP AND THEDRAGONONCEMORETERRORIZEDTHECITY4HEKINGDECIDED VERY RELUCTANTLY THATTHEONLYWAYTOSAVEHISPEOPLEWASTOSACRIlCE ACHILDEACHDAY WITHTHEHOPETHATTHISWOULDQUENCHTHE DRAGONSAPPETITE!LOTTERYWASCREATED ANDEVERYCHILDUNDER BECAMEELIGIBLEFORTHESACRIlCE4HEKINGPRAYEDTHATAMIRACLE WOULDSOONSAVETHEMFROMTHEEVILMONSTER !FTERWEEKSOFFEEDINGTHEBEAST NOMIRACLEAPPEARED4HEN THEKINGSOWNDAUGHTER !LEYONE WASCHOSENBYTHELOTTERY)N THEMORNING SHEWASTIEDTOASTAKEATTHEEDGEOFTHESWAMP 4HEKINGCOULDONLYWATCHHELPLESSLYINDESPAIR !STHEPRINCESSSTOODAWAITINGHERFATE SHESUDDENLYFELTTHE GROUNDSHAKINGUNDERFOOT"UTINSTEADOFTHEDRAGON AKNIGHT INSILVERARMOR WITHACRIMSONCROSSPAINTEDONHISBREASTPLATE CAMEGALLOPINGUPONAGREATWHITECHARGER(EWASARMED WITHALONG WICKED LOOKINGLANCEANDWHITESHIELD4HEKNIGHT DISMOUNTEDANDIDENTIlEDHIMSELF(ISNAME HESAID WAS 'EORGE(EWASFROMEASTERN4URKEY ANDHADBEENACAVALRYMAN INTHE2OMANARMYBEFORECONVERTINGTO#HRISTIANITY.OWHE ROAMEDTHECOUNTRYSIDE ASSISTINGTHOSEINNEED
4HEPRINCESS BEGGED'EORGETO mEEWHILEHESTILL HADTHECHANCE )NSTEAD 'EORGE UNTIEDHER(E TURNEDTOWARDTHE SWAMPSOMETHING LARGEWASRUSTLINGIN THEREEDS4HENTHE DRAGONBURSTFORTH DRIPPINGSLIMEAND ROARINGINANGER )TSBRIGHTLYCOLORED SCALESGLINTEDIN THESUNLIGHT AND ITSCORKSCREWTAIL THRASHEDFROMSIDE TOSIDE'LISTENING FANGSGNASHEDINA HUGE GAPINGJAW THATSTANKOFRAW MEAT4HEBEAST SPOTTING'EORGE ROAREDWITHFURY 'EORGERAISED HISLANCETOSTRIKE 3UDDENLY THE DRAGONSPREAD ITSLEATHERYWINGS'EORGETOOKASTEPBACKINAMAZEMENT(E SEEMEDTOBECONFRONTEDBYHUNDREDSOFEVILEYESSTARINGBACK ATHIM4HEEYE LIKESPOTS WHICHWEREVISIBLEONTHEUNDERSIDE OFTHEWINGS SHIMMEREDANDSHOOKASTHEDRAGONROARED NEARLY HYPNOTIZINGTHEKNIGHT'EORGESHOOKHISHEAD REMEMBERINGHIS VOWTOHELPTHEWEAK7ITHALLHISSTRENGTH HETHRUSTHISLANCE FORWARD4HEDRAGONROAREDANDSCREECHED MORTALLYWOUNDEDIN THENECK 'EORGEAND!LEYONELEDTHEBLEEDINGDRAGONBACKTO 3ILENE WHERE'EORGETHENBEHEADEDTHEBEASTINFRONTOFTHE TOWNSPEOPLE DEMONSTRATINGTHEPOWEROFHISFAITHAGAINSTTHE FORCESOFEVIL
!BOVE$EATHOFTHE ,AST$RAGON BY $ON-AITZ
3CPNCLR $P?EMLQ EOPLEWHOSTUDYDRAGONSARECALLEDhDRACONTOLOGISTSv -ANYOFTHESESCHOLARSBELIEVETHATSIGHTINGSOFLARGE SNAKESLEDTOTHEMYTHSOFDRAGONS4HISMAKESSENSE WHENYOUCONSIDERTHATMANYOFTHEEARLIESTDRAGON SIGHTINGSWEREOFLARGE SERPENT LIKECREATURES 3ERPENTDRAGONS CALLEDGUIVRES ARETHEEARLIEST MOSTPRIMITIVE FORMOFDRAGONS,IKESNAKES THEYHAVENOLIMBS ANDAREWINGLESS !LSOCALLEDWORMSORWYRMS THESEDRAGONSHAVEHORNEDHEADS ANDPOWERFULJAWS LIKEACROCODILES7ORMSMAKETHEIRHOMES NEARBODIESOFWATER SUCHASLAKESANDSTREAMS SOMETIMESEVENTHE OCEAN -ANYWORMSTORIESCOMEFROM%NGLAND &RANCE AND 3CANDINAVIA"UTTHEIRTRUERANGEISWORLDWIDE3OME.ATIVE !MERICANTRIBESTELLTHELEGENDOFWEEWILMEKQ AHORNEDSERPENT THATRESEMBLESAGIANTLEECH 4HE"IBLETELLSOFASERPENTDRAGONNAMED,EVIATHAN AGIGANTIC MONSTERTHATLIVEDINTHESEA)TWASSOIMMENSETHATWHENIT THRASHEDTHROUGHTHEWATER THESEABOILEDBEHINDTHEGREATBEAST 3TEAMHISSEDFROMITSNOSTRILS ANDCLOUDSOFSMOKEANDmAME SPEWEDFROMITSGIGANTICJAWS.ORSEMYTHOLOGYTELLSOFASIMILAR SERPENT *ORMUNGANDER WHOSEIMMENSECOILSCIRCLETHEENTIRE EARTH 3OMELEGENDSOFSERPENTDRAGONSINTHESEAMAYHAVECOME FROMSIGHTINGSOFTHEOARlSH4HESERARE DEEP SEACREATURESARE LONGANDSLENDER BRIGHTYELLOWINCOLOR WITHARAISEDDORSALlN ONTHEBACKOFITSHEAD4HEYCANREACHLENGTHSOFUPTOFEET M
&ACINGPAGE4HE "IBLICALSEASERPENT ,EVIATHAN "ELOW!NOARlSH
!BOVE!GARGOYLE SITSATOP.OTRE $AME#ATHEDRALIN 0ARIS &RANCE
/NESERPENTDRAGONTHATWASDElNITELY NOTANOARlSHWASTHEGARGOYLEOF2OUEN &RANCE4HISMEDIEVALTOWN INTHEYEAR WASTERRORIZEDBYASERPENTDRAGON THATLIVEDINTHE2IVER3EINE7HENITlRST APPEARED THETALESAYS ITOPENEDITSMOUTH ANDGREATJETSOFWATERSPEWEDOUT mOODING THECOUNTRYSIDE-ANYPEOPLEWEREEITHER EATENBYTHEDRAGONORDROWNEDBYTHE TIDALWAVES4HETOWNSPEOPLECALLEDTHE CREATURETHEGARGOUILLE WHICHINTHE&RENCHLANGUAGEMEANS hGARGLERv-ANYMEDIEVALBUILDINGS SUCHASTHECATHEDRALOF .OTRE$AMEIN0ARIS CANBESEENTODAYWITHWATERSPOUTSSHAPED LIKEGARGOYLES DESIGNEDTODRAINAWAYRAINWATER
4FC4?JCMDRFC ,?K@RML7MPK
$
URINGTHE-IDDLE!GES ACURSETERRORIZEDTHESMALLVILLAGE OF7ASHINGTON WHICHLAYNEARTHE2IVER7EARIN#OUNTY $URHAM %NGLAND4HEYEARWAS!BOYBYTHENAMEOF *OHN,AMBTON THEHEIRTONEARBY,AMBTON#ASTLE DECIDEDTO GOlSHING)TWASA3UNDAY ANDHEHADBEENWARNEDTHATITWAS UNLUCKYTOSKIPCHURCH BUTHEWASDETERMINEDTOWETHISLINE ANDFRITTERTHEDAYAWAY 9OUNG*OHNSATONTHEBANKSOF2IVER7EARANDCASTHISLINE "UTHECAUGHTNOlSHTHATDAY)NSTEAD HISONLYCATCHWASAN UGLYWORM WHICHDRIPPEDSLIMEANDHADTHEFACEOFADEMON)N ANGER *OHNTHREWTHEWORMDOWNAWELL 9EARSPASSED*OHNGREWINTOAYOUNGMAN ANDSOONFOUND HIMSELFlGHTINGAWARINADISTANTLAND-EANWHILE BACKINTHE VILLAGE SOMETHINGTERRIBLECRAWLEDOUTOFTHEWELL4HEWORM *OHNHADCASTDOWNHADGROWN YEARAFTERYEAR INTOAHUGE SERPENTDRAGON.OWITLURCHEDACROSSTHELAND KILLINGCOWSAND
CHICKENS ANDEVENYOUNGCHILDREN)TWAS SOGIGANTICTHATITCOULDWRAPITSELFAROUND ANEARBYHILLNINETIMES 7HEN*OHNRETURNEDFROMTHEWAR HEWASSHOCKEDTOSEEHISKINGDOMUNDER SIEGEBYTHEFOULBEAST(ESOUGHTA FRIENDLYWITCHSADVICEONHOWTOSLAYTHE EVILDRAGON3HETOLDHIMHECOULDKILLTHE DRAGON BUTONLYIFHEWOREASPECIALSUIT OFARMORWITHSHARPBLADESBUILTALLAROUND IT3HEALSOSAIDTHAT AFTERKILLINGTHEBEAST HEWOULDHAVETOKILLTHEVERYNEXTLIVING THINGHESAW ORELSEATERRIBLECURSEWOULD FALLONHISFAMILY *OHNQUICKLYHADTHESUITOFARMOR CONSTRUCTED THENSETOUTTODOBATTLEWITH THE,AMBTON7ORM)TWASAlERCElGHT 4HEDRAGONSPOWERFULJAWSOPENEDAND SNAPPEDASTHEBEASTTRIEDTOBITETHEYOUNG PRINCEINTWO"UT*OHNWASQUICKONHIS FEET ANDSKILLFULWITHASWORD 3UDDENLY *OHNSLIPPEDANDSTUMBLED INTOTHERIVER HISGUARDDROPPINGFORJUST AMOMENT3EEINGITSCHANCE THEDRAGON WRAPPEDITSIMMENSECOILSAROUNDTHE BRAVEKNIGHTANDTRIEDTOCRUSHHIMTO DEATH"UTTHETIGHTERTHEDRAGONSQUEEZED THEMORETHEBLADESENCRUSTEDINTHEARMOR SLICEDINTOITSHIDE4HEDRAGONHOWLEDINPAINANDSURPRISE*OHN HACKEDAWAYATTHEDRAGONUNTIL lNALLY ITFELLINSMALLPIECESINTO THERIVER ANDWASCARRIEDAWAYBYTHECURRENT*OHNHADSAVEDHIS KINGDOMFROMTHEAWFULDRAGON *OHNSFATHER THEKING WASOVERJOYEDTHATHISSONHAD SURVIVED ANDCAMEBOUNDINGOUTOFTHECASTLETOGREETHIM*OHN REALIZEDTHATHISFATHERWASTHElRSTLIVINGTHINGTHATHEHADSEEN SINCEKILLINGTHEDRAGON"UTHECOULDNOTDOASTHEOLDWITCH HADTOLDHIM)NSTEAD HEKILLEDHISMOSTFAITHFULDOG INHOPES THATTHISSACRIlCEWOULDBEENOUGH)TWASNOT&ORTHENEXTNINE GENERATIONS ACURSEFELLUPONTHE,AMBTONFAMILY%VERYHEIRTO THETHRONEMETATRAGICEND DOOMEDTODIEFARFROMHOME
!BOVE*OHN ,AMBTON ACCIDENTALLYHOOKS ASERPENTDRAGON
#J?QQGA?J $P?EMLQ &ARRIGHT!WIZARD RIDESACLASSICAL DRAGONIN$ON -AITZS"OOKED &LIGHT "ELOW$RAGONS 2UN BYFANTASY ILLUSTRATOR*ANNY 7URTS
LASSICAL$RAGONSAREWHATMOSTPEOPLETHINKOFWHEN THEYHEARTHEWORDhDRAGONv4HEYAREALSOCALLED HERALDICDRAGONS4HEYARElERCE REPTILIANBEASTS 4HEYHAVEFOURLEGSWITHTALON TIPPEDFEET BAT LIKE WINGS ANDAHUGETAIL SOMETIMESTIPPEDWITHASTINGER#LASSICAL DRAGONSUSUALLYBREATHElREORPOISONOUSGAS4HEYHAVETHICK MULTI HUEDSCALES ANDAHEADLIKEACROCODILE WITHHORNSAND RAZOR SHARPFANGS 7HEN3AINT'EORGEFOUGHTHISFAMOUSDUELIN,IBYA ITWAS WITHACLASSICALDRAGON!NOTHERFAMOUSENCOUNTERWITHTHISKIND OFDRAGONISTOLDINTHEANCIENTSAGAOF"EOWULF "EOWULFISAVERYOLDEPICPOEM WRITTENIN/LD%NGLISH INAPPROXIMATELY!$)TTELLSTHESTORYOFAMIGHTY SIXTHCENTURY 3CANDINAVIAN WARRIOR4HESTORY BEGINSIN"EOWULF S YOUTH WHENHE SAVEDA$ANISHCITY FROMTHEMONSTER 'RENDEL AND 'RENDELSWATER TROLL MOTHER"EOWULFWAS SKILLEDINBATTLE AND AWISELEADER(E SOONBECAMEKINGOF THE'EATS ATRIBEIN SOUTHERN3WEDEN
"CMUSJD 6CPQSQRFC $P?EML
7
HEN"EOWULFBECAMEANOLDER MAN HISLANDWASTHREATENEDBY AlREDRAGON4HEDRAGONHADBECOME ENRAGEDWHENONEOFITSTRINKETS APIECE OFITSTREASUREHOARDWHICHITJEALOUSLY GUARDEDINANUNDERGROUNDLAIR WASSTOLEN BYAPEASANT.OWTHEDRAGONWREAKED VENGEANCEUPONTHEHUMANSLIVINGNEARBY "EOWULFRUSHEDTOTHECAVEOFTHE DRAGON(ECALLEDTOIT DEMANDINGTHATIT COMEOUTANDlGHT4OGETHERWITHAFAITHFUL SERVANT "EOWULFBATTLEDTHEHIDEOUSBEAST 4HEDRAGONBELCHEDmAMESATTHEHERO KING BUT"EOWULFWASPROTECTEDFROM BEHINDHISMIGHTYSHIELD "EOWULFRUSHEDATTHEDRAGONAND STRUCK BUTHISSWORDBROKEAGAINSTTHE CREATURESSCALES!SHEREACHEDFORHIS DAGGER THEDRAGONBITHIMINTHENECKAND TOSSEDHIMABOUTLIKEARAGDOLL 3UDDENLY "EOWULF SSERVANTTHRUSTHIS SWORDINTOTHESOFTUNDERBELLYOFTHEBEAST 4HEDRAGONRELEASED"EOWULFANDHOWLED 4HEWARRIORANDHISSERVANTHACKEDATTHE DRAGONUNTIL lNALLY ITLAYDEADATTHEIRFEET "EOWULFWASTRIUMPHANTOVERTHE DRAGON BUTITSBITEWASDEADLYPOISONOUS 4HEMIGHTYWARRIORDIEDONTHESPOT VICTIMOFTHESERPENTHEHADJUSTSLAIN
2IGHT$ARKNESSAT3ETHANON BY$ON -AITZ
3CKG $P?EMLQ EMI DRAGONSAREAKINDOFCROSSBETWEENCLASSICAL DRAGONSANDSERPENTDRAGONS4HEREARETWOMAIN TYPESOFSEMI DRAGONSLINDORMSANDWYVERNS ,INDORMSHAVETWOLEGSANDNOWINGS4HEYAREVERY SERPENT LIKE7YVERNS ONTHEOTHERHAND HAVEAPAIROFLEGS BUTASETOFWINGSASWELL WHICHMAKESTHEMAPPEARMORELIKE CLASSICALDRAGONS 4HEMOSTFAMOUSLINDORMCANBEFOUNDINTHETALEOF 3IEGFRIEDANDTHESLAYINGOF&AFNIR3IEGFRIEDWASAHEROFROM ANCIENT'ERMANAND.ORSELITERATURE)NONEOFHISADVENTURES HE SETOUTINTOTHECOUNTRYSIDETORETAKETHETREASUREGUARDEDBYAN ENCHANTEDDRAGONNAMED&AFNIR &AFNIRWASATERRIBLE lRE BREATHINGLINDORMDRAGONWHO STOODWATCHOVERAVASTHOARDOFTREASUREINADEEP DARKCAVE(IS SCALYARMORWASNEARLYIMPREGNABLE 7HEN3IEGFRIEDARRIVED THEDRAGON WASGONEONHISDAILYDRINKATANEARBY STREAM3IEGFRIEDDUGAPITINTHEPATH WHERETHEDRAGONMOVED JUMPEDIN AND THENWAITEDWITHHISMAGICALSWORD'RAM 3OON &AFNIRCAMELUMBERINGUPTHE PATH0ATIENTLY 3IEGFRIEDWAITEDUNTILTHE DRAGONMOVEDOVERTHEPIT EXPOSINGHIS SOFT UNPROTECTEDBELLY3IEGFRIEDTHRUSTHIS SWORDUP MORTALLYWOUNDINGTHEDRAGON &AFNIRROARED THENCOLLAPSEDDEAD GIVING UPHISTREASUREHOARDTOTHEVICTORIOUS 3IEGFRIED
&ARRIGHT3IEGFRIED SLAYSTHELINDORM DRAGON&AFNIR "ELOW!MAN DOESBATTLEWITHA WYVERN
!QG?L $P?EMLQ RAGONSAPPEARALLOVER!SIA INCLUDING*APANAND +OREA BUTESPECIALLYIN#HINA WHERETHEYARE THOUGHTTOBRINGPROSPERITYANDGOODFORTUNE )N#HINA THEDRAGONISTHESUPREMEBEINGOFALL CREATURESONEARTHANDINTHEHEAVENS #HINESEDRAGONSAREQUITEDIFFERENTFROMTHEIRCOUSINSINTHE 7EST4HEYmY BUTWITHTHEUSEOFMAGIC NOTWINGS)NSTEAD OFBEINGANGRYANDJEALOUS THESEDRAGONSAREENERGETICAND INTELLIGENT4HEYSYMBOLIZEPOWERANDHEROISM$RAGONSOFTHE %ASTCANBEFRIENDLYANDWISE4HEYARENOTHATEDBEASTS)NSTEAD PEOPLELOVEANDWORSHIPTHEM ESPECIALLYSINCEDRAGONSCONTROL THERAINSANDTHESEAS&ARMERSOFTENPRAYTOhLUNG vASDRAGONS ARECALLEDIN#HINA ASKINGFORRAINTOWATERTHEIRCROPS -OST!SIAN DRAGONSLIVEIN THEWATER!LMOST EVERYLAKE RIVER ORPONDHASA DRAGONSPIRITTHAT DWELLSUNDERTHE SURFACE%VENTODAY DRAGONSHRINESAND ALTARSCANBESEEN ALONGSEASHORES ANDRIVERBANKSOF MODERN#HINAAND *APAN
"ELOW!PAINTING OFDRAGONSFROM +OREA
3YMBOLSOFDRAGONSCANBEFOUNDALMOSTEVERYWHEREIN !BOVE4WO$RAGONS #HINA$RAGONFESTIVALSOCCURREGULARLY INCLUDINGRACESINLARGE IN#LOUDS BY+ANO BOATSSHAPEDLIKEDRAGONS$URINGTHE#HINESE.EW9EAR WHICH (OGAI USUALLYTAKESPLACEBETWEENTHEENDOF*ANUARYANDMID&EBRUARY PEOPLEDRESSINIMMENSEPAPERDRAGONSANDPARADETHROUGHTHE STREETS%VERYYEARSOFTHE#HINESECALENDARISCALLEDTHE9EAROF THE$RAGON WHICHISCONSIDEREDALUCKYYEAR 3INCEANCIENTTIMES THEEMPEROROF#HINACLAIMEDTOBE DESCENDEDFROMDRAGONS-ANYOTHER!SIANRULERSALSOCLAIMTO HAVEDRAGONANCESTORS$RAGONSBECAMEASYMBOLOFIMPERIAL POWER)N#HINA THEEMPERORSATONTHEhDRAGONTHRONEv#ALLING AN!SIANRULERhDRAGONFACEvMEANTTHATYOUWEREPAYINGHIMA GREATCOMPLIMENT)MPERIALDRAGONSWERESHOWNWITHlVECLAWS INSTEADOFTHEUSUALFOUR!NYONEBESIDESTHEEMPERORCAUGHT WITHAlVE CLAWEDDRAGON EITHERINPRINTORSCULPTURE WAS SUBJECTTOSEVEREPENALTY EVENDEATH 7ISE HEAVENLY ABLETOWARDOFFEVILSPIRITS ANDPROTECTORSOF THEINNOCENT !SIANDRAGONSAREASYMBOLOF-OTHER.ATUREAND BRINGERSOFLIFEANDGOODFORTUNE
$P?EMLQ 4MB?W INCEANCIENTTIMES DRAGONSHAVECAPTUREDPEOPLES IMAGINATION ANDTHISCONTINUESTODAYINBOOKS ANDMOVIES&ROM3HREKTO(ARRY0OTTER DRAGONS CONTINUETODELIGHTANDTERRIFYUS /NEOFTHEMOSTPOPULARNOVELSPRINTEDINIS%RAGON BY #HRISTOPHER0AOLINI WHOWASJUSTWHENHESTARTEDWRITINGTHE BOOK)TTELLSTHESTORYOF%RAGON AYOUNGFARMBOY WHOlNDS AMARVELOUSBLUEEGGTHATHATCHESINTOADRAGON%RAGONRAISES THEDRAGON ANDTOGETHERTHEYSETOUTONAJOURNEYOFMAGICAND POWER 4HEVILLAININ*224OLKIENS4HE(OBBITIS3MAUG ARED DRAGONWHOGUARDSTHE$WARVENRICHESDEEPWITHIN,ONELY -OUNTAIN4OLKIENWROTETHISFANTASTICALBOOKBEFOREMOVING ONTOHISEPICTRILOGY 4HE,ORDOFTHE2INGS4OLKIENSCHARACTER DESCRIPTIONSAREASHEERDELIGHTh4HEREHELAY AVASTRED GOLDEN DRAGON FASTASLEEPATHRUMMINGCAMEFROMHISJAWSANDNOSTRILS ANDWISPSOFSMOKE BUTHISlRESWERELOWINSLUMBER"ENEATH HIMUNDERALLHISLIMBSANDHISHUGECOILEDTAIL ANDABOUTHIM ONALLSIDESSTRETCHINGAWAYACROSSTHEUNSEENmOORS LAYCOUNTLESS PILESOFPRECIOUSTHINGS GOLDWROUGHTANDUNWROUGHT GEMS ANDJEWELS ANDSILVERRED STAINEDINTHERUDDYLIGHTv*22 4OLKEIN 4HE(OBBIT )NlLMANDVIDEO TOO WEENCOUNTERDRAGONSINANENDLESS VARIETY FROM$RAGONHEARTTO3LEEPING"EAUTY ANDFROM-ULAN TO2EIGNOF&IRE$RAGONSSEEMTOBEANEVER ENDINGSOURCEOF INSPIRATIONFORlLMMAKERS $RAGONSTORIESHAVEEXISTEDFORTHOUSANDSOFYEARS ALL DESIGNEDTOFRIGHTEN EDUCATE AMUSE ANDENTERTAINUS$RAGONS THEVERYSYMBOLOFMYSTERYANDPOWER WILLBEWITHUSALWAYS
&ARRIGHT$RAGONS 0AWN BYFANTASY AUTHORANDARTIST *ANNY7URTS
'JMQQ?PW #(!2'%2
!HORSETHATISRIDDENINTOBATTLE ORINAPARADE #253!$%3 !SERIESOFMILITARYCAMPAIGNSTHATTOOKPLACEFROMTHETHTHROUGHTHETHCENTURIES 4HE#RUSADESBEGANASANEFFORTBYWESTERN%UROPEAN#HRISTIANSTORECAPTURE-USLIM CONTROLLED*ERUSALEM4HEYDEVELOPEDINTOTERRITORIALWARS ANDINCLUDEDMUCHOFTHE -IDDLE%AST ASWELLASOTHERhPAGANvAREASSUCHASTHE"ALTICREGIONOFNORTHERN%UROPE &/,+,/2%
4HEUNWRITTENTRADITIONS LEGENDS ANDCUSTOMSOFACULTURE&OLKLOREISUSUALLYPASSED DOWNBYWORDOFMOUTHFROMGENERATIONTOGENERATION '%.2%
!TYPE ORKIND OFAWORKOFART)NLITERATURE AGENREISDISTINGUISHEDBYACOMMON SUBJECT THEMEORSTYLE3OMEGENRESINCLUDEFANTASY SCIENCElCTION ANDMYSTERY )-0%.%42!",%
!NOBJECTORBARRIERTHATCANNOTBEPENETRATED ORPASSEDTHROUGH )-02%'.!",%
!PLACETHATISSEEMINGLYIMPOSSIBLETOCAPTUREORENTERBYFORCE3OMEMEDIEVALCASTLES WEREBUILTSOSTRONGTHATTHEYWERECONSIDEREDTOBEIMPREGNABLEBYENEMYARMIES
,!)2
4HERESTINGPLACEOFAWILDANIMAL USUALLYHIDDEN$RAGONSOFTENHAVELAIRSDEEPIN CAVES WHERETHEYGUARDTHEIRTREASURE ,!.#%
!THRUSTINGWEAPONOFTENUSEDBYMEDIEVALWARRIORS,ANCESUSUALLYCONSISTOFALONG WOODENSHAFTTIPPEDWITHASHARPMETALSPEARHEAD)NMEDIEVAL%UROPE KNIGHTS ARMEDWITHLANCESSOMETIMESFOUGHTEACHOTHERONHORSEBACK EITHERINBATTLEORIN TOURNAMENTS -!2#/0/,/ -ARCO0OLOWASATH CENTURYMERCHANTANDEXPLORERFROMTHEPRESENT DAYCITYOF 6ENICE )TALY(EWASONEOFTHElRST%UROPEANSTOREACH#HINAOVERLAND -%$)%6!,
3OMETHINGFROMTHE-IDDLE!GES -)$$,%!'%3 )N%UROPEANHISTORY APERIODDElNEDBYHISTORIANSASBETWEEN!$AND!$ -94(/,/'9
4HESTUDYORCOLLECTIONOFMYTHS-YTHSARETRADITIONALSTORIESCOLLECTEDBYACULTURE 4HEIRAUTHORSAREALMOSTALWAYSUNKNOWN-YTHSEXPLAINTHEORIGINOFMANKIND OR OFCIVILIZATIONS4HEYALSOEXPLAINTHECUSTOMSORRELIGIONSOFAPEOPLE-YTHSAREOFTEN STORIESTHATINCLUDETHEDEEDSOFGODSANDGREATHEROES ./23% 4HEPEOPLE LANGUAGE ORCULTUREOF3CANDINAVIA ESPECIALLYMEDIEVAL3CANDINAVIA 3%20%.4
!SERPENTISASNAKE ESPECIALLYALARGEORPOISONOUSONE 3,!9
4OKILLORDESTROYVIOLENTLY 42/5"!$/52
0OET MUSICIANSOFTHETHTHROUGHTHCENTURIES4ROUBADOURSWANDEREDTHE COUNTRYSIDESOF&RANCE 3PAIN AND)TALY TELLINGPOEMSANDSINGINGSONGSOFLOVEAND CHIVALRY
)LBCV !
'
-
!FRICA !LEYONE !SIA
'EATS 'RAM 'REECE 'RENDEL
-ARDUK -IDDLE!GES -IDDLE%AST -ULAN
" "ABYLON "EOWULF "RITISH)SLES
(
#
)NDIA )NDONESIA )TALY
#ATHOLICCHURCH #ENTRAL!MERICA #HINA #HINESE.EW9EAR #ONGO 2EPUBLIC OF
$ $RAGONHEART $URHAM#OUNTY %NGLAND
% %ARTH %AST!FRICA %NGLAND %RAGON %RAGON
& &AFNIR lREBREATHING &RANCE
(OBBIT 4HE
.
)
.OTRE$AME #ATHEDRAL
* *APAN *ORMUNGANDER
+ +OMODO +OREA
, ,AMBTON#ASTLE ,AMBTON *OHN ,AMBTON7ORM ,EVIATHAN ,IBYA ,ONELY-OUNTAIN ,ORDOFTHE2INGS 4HE
0
3MAUG 3WEDEN
4 4IAMAT 4OLKIEN *22 4URKEY
7 7ASHINGTON %NGLAND 7EAR2IVER WEEWILMEKQ
0AOLINI #HRISTOPHER 9 0APUA.EW'UINEA 9EAROFTHE$RAGON 0ARIS &RANCE 0OLO -ARCO 0OTTER (ARRY
2 2EIGNOF&IRE 2OUEN &RANCE
3 3AINT'EORGE 3CANDINAVIA 3EINE2IVER 3HREK 3IEGFRIED 3ILENE ,IBYA 3LEEPING"EAUTY