Wings lifting....
Soaring...
Sunlight
Dancing over jeweled scales
Flame...burning
vision
Golden
eyes...bright wit unhidden
Strength
in power forbidden
Joy
in flight......
--(c)
Denise 1999
Welcome to
the land of Dragons...
These magnificent, noble creatures have captured the imagination of man for eons. From the fierce, fire-breathing dragon of European lore, to the cunning, colorful luck bringing 'wyrms' of the far east....dragons have appealed to the fierce, as well as the noble in us all!
KINDS OF DRAGONS 
The European Dragon |
 |
| Probably the most widely
recognized, with it's spiked back, leathery hide,
and flared nostrils, the Eurpean Dragon is, to
many, the very essence of dragonkind. Harking
back many thousands of years the first recorded
Dragons, Zu and Tiamat, were
part of ancient Sumerian and Babylonian epics.
Though only physically approaching what we,
today, accept as dragons, both Zu and Tiamat are
often called the 'first dragon'. Biblical epics,
too, recount tales of evil nacash, or serpants,
notably Leviathan and Rahab. Usually occupied in
the destruction of mankind or creation itself,
these ancient dragons were seen as menancing,
dangerous, and often jealous and petty, and quite
likely were responsible for the dark and
dangerous reputation that dragons have suffered,
in the west, since history began. Unlike it's often more mammalian ancestors, the modern European or Western dragon is rarely portrayed without it's huge bat-like wings. Reports of this majestic creature were widely heard across Europe, especially Britain in the time during and before the middle ages. Sadly, they seem to have all but vanished since. (Though many a scholar believes that the Loch Ness Monster may, in fact, be an example of a sub-set of the Western Dragon, the Sea Serpant.) European dragons were feared for their ability to spout fire, respected for their great intelligence, and because of their strength and beauty, sought out by misguided knights wishing to prove their power, or as with St George, those seeking political or holy glory. |
| Asian Dragons |  |
| Cunning and often feroucious, Asian
dragons are nevertheless beloved and
revered as symbols of good fortune. Where it was
common for the Western Hero or Saint to become a
Dragonslayer, Asian heros were often said to have
dragons as companions. These eastern beasts bears
only the slightest resemblance to their western
cousins. Sometimes portrayed as
winged, legged serpents, eastern dragons can be
just as often wingless and limbless. Like their
Western counterparts, these creatures too first
appeared in ancient times. Depictions of Chinese
Dragons appeared in the Neolithic period. The dragon, called Lung in China, can be found in four main types,or families, the Celestial Dragon (Tien-Lung), who guards the abodes of the gods, the Treasure Dragon (Fut's Lung) who guards precious metals and gems , the Earth Dragon (Ti-Lung) who controls rivers and water on earth, and the Rain Dragon (Shen-Lung) who controls the wind, and of course, the rain. Chinese Dragons are still valued in the far east today as signs of good luck, and are central to the Chinese New Year's celebration, and are honored even now in dragon boat races. |
| Other Dragon Types |  |
| Dragons have appeared throughout the eons in any number of forms. The biblical Leviathan, who in mythology was defeated by God as part of creation of the world, the ancient Roman and Greek beasts who had a more beneficial relationship with the populace, and the modern Pernese and Fairy dragons, tiny creatures with butterfly wings, are just a few of the many, miraculous forms these creatures have taken. No matter what their form, Dragons enchant our world! And those of us who believe, are lucky to have them part of our hearts! | |||
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