Facts about Dragons

chinese dragon

• The English term "dragon" derives from Greek δράκων (drákōn), "dragon, serpent of huge size, water-snake".
• Dragons are legendary creatures that feature in the myths of many cultures.
• There are 2 distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European (or western) dragon and the Chinese dragon.
• European dragons are more often winged, while Chinese dragons resemble large snakes.
• Dragons are able to emit fire from their mouths.
• Both European Dragons and Chinese dragons usually live in water, especially oceans and rivers.
• The Western dragon has bat-type wings growing from its back.
• In many Asian cultures dragons are associated with wisdom and longevity.
• The King James Bible uses the words "dragon", "serpent" and "Devil" in a fairly interchangeable manner.
• Dinosaur and mammalian fossils were occasionally mistaken for the bones of dragons and other mythological creature.
• Chinese dragons can take on human form and are usually seen as benevolent.
• Like the Chinese Dragons, European Dragons also have the reputation of wisdom.
• In the 1937 fantasy novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, the major antagonist is a dragon named Smaug.
• The usual theme of a European Dragon's diet is either animals like goats and sheep, and also young virgins.