Dragons

[saturneptune]

Has anyone done research on the origin of dragons? I notice it is very prominent in Chinese and Far East literature. Also, the dragon appears on many of the family crests in England from the Middle Age. It seems odd a mythological creature has such widespread attention.

 

[webdog]

I believe they are dinosaurs. From much of the art, that is what they appear to be. I remember reading about missionaries visiting a remote tribe in Africa and seeing pictures of what appeared to be an apatosaurus.

 

[Winman]

Has anyone done research on the origin of dragons? I notice it is very prominent in Chinese and Far East literature. Also, the dragon appears on many of the family crests in England from the Middle Age. It seems odd a mythological creature has such widespread attention.

I believe dragons were simply dinosaurs that lived with man. They have been reported by hundreds of civilizations for thousands of years.

From ancient Babylon;



From Palestine around 100 A.D.



The artwork from Palestine might explain what happened to dinosaurs, it shows men with shields and spears preparing to attack a large reptile creature.

 

[Alcott]

They're popular, alright. They were even in a John Wayne movie: "Look at them horses-- what are they dragon?..."

 

[JonC]

They're popular, alright. They were even in a John Wayne movie: "Look at them horses-- what are they dragon?..."

:thumbsup::laugh::laugh:

 

[Melanie]

It is a part of our dreaming I suspect....from the time of fireside stories and heroes and monsters.

Although the dragon does not appear in the Australian Dreaming, there are plenty monsters such as the bunyip, Tidalik and others. Nor is it in Maori myth I think.

 

[saturneptune]

It is a part of our dreaming I suspect....from the time of fireside stories and heroes and monsters.

Although the dragon does not appear in the Australian Dreaming, there are plenty monsters such as the bunyip, Tidalik and others. Nor is it in Maori myth I think.

In mythology dragons breathed out fire. The only evidence of a species that breathes hot air on earth today are politicians in Washington, used car salesmen, and Joel Olsten.

 

[Melanie]

In mythology dragons breathed out fire. The only evidence of a species that breathes hot air on earth today are politicians in Washington, used car salesmen, and Joel Olsten.

That's for sure, although I do not know of Joel Olsten (guess I am lucky huh!). Politicians are the same world over......your guys are no better and probably not as bad as some......my immediate bosses were coated in Teflon....nothin' stuck to their greasy hides...

 

[Inspector Javert]

^^^^what Winman and Web-dog said^^^^

If we were to use the same terminology that the ancients used...they would no doubt call an 18 ft. crocodile (and there are some) a "dragon" too.

A "dragon" is a very very very BIG reptile. Nothing more.
And I imagine that good old St. George did indeed slay a "dragon".