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dragon

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dragon

Name popularly given to various sorts of lizard. These include the flying dragon Draco volans of southeast Asia; the komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis of Indonesia, at over 3 m/10 ft the largest living lizard; and some Australian lizards with bizarre spines or frills.

dragon

Mythical reptilian beast, often portrayed with wings and breathing fire. An occasional feature of classical legends such as the rescue of Andromeda, dragons later held a central place as opponents of gods and heroes in Vedic, Teutonic (Siegfried), Anglo-Saxon (Beowulf), and Christian (St George) mythologies, possibly accounting for their heraldic role on medieval banners and weaponry.

The Red Dragon is familiar as the badge of Wales. In English heraldry the dragon was originally indistinguishable from the wyvern, a dragonlike creature with a long tail instead of hind legs, but from Tudor times dragons were usually depicted with four legs. In Christian art the dragon is linked with the devil; but in traditional Chinese belief it is a benevolent monster, a symbol of divinity and royalty, and an omen of prosperity, associated with storms and rain.

Chinese dragons

The creatures were first mentioned as early as the 3rd millennium BC when a pair were seen by the Yellow Emperor. A five-clawed dragon became the symbol of imperial authority and many of the emperor's possessions were given related names, including the dragon-throne, dragon-boat, and dragon-steps. Four dragon-kings were believed to rule the four seas and to bring rain. In times of drought, the dragon-king would be propitiated by offerings at temples by the sides of wells.

Greek dragons

In Greek mythology the dragon is represented as an unresting sentinel; Ladon, offspring of the monster Typhon and Echidne (half woman, half serpent), guarded the golden apples tended by the Hesperides, and another sleepless dragon watched over the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts. The Hydra, a beast with nine heads, was slain by Heracles (Hercules).



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Mentioned in?  References in classic literature?   Hutchinson browser?   Full browser?
 
I will soon find out where she is, however,' said the star-gazer, as he looked through his glass; and he soon cried out, 'I see her afar off, sitting upon a rock in the sea, and I can spy the dragon close by, guarding her.
In this way the Dragon was able to feed upon both men and beasts without the least trouble to itself, as it needed not to move from the spot where it was lying.
George and the Dragon; which dragon I maintain to have been a whale; for in many old chronicles whales and dragons are strangely jumbled together, and often stand for each other.
 
 
 
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