Dragons

Almost every fantasy novel, film and cartoon features mythical dragons. They are held deeply within the mindset of mankind like a Yungian archetype. Either the dragon or mankind, who creates them, has a split or dual personality, because they are so often portrayed as either good or evil. This dual nature is implicit in the original roles of the dragons in folklore and legend around the world. Dragons were said to wipe out entire villages, take virgin daughters as sacrificial offerings and to breath fire on any that stood in the way. On the other hand, they were also said to be kind, caring and to have often saved humans. They are mirrors of our own self, of our own societies. We too warred against our fellow man and yet prayed in church on Sunday.
Useful sites: www.philipgardiner.net www.serpentgrail.com

Sub paragraph 1 Where

The Dragons is featured in just about every culture and country on the globe. In Asia the Chinese dragons are fantastic beasts paraded through the streets and are ancestors to the Emperors. In Europe dragons are fire breathing monstrous creatures living in caves. In South America they become the serpent deities as they do in the Middle East. Herodotus called them flying serpents, snakes with wings and even today we can still see images of these winged serpents in the chalice of St John in many local churches.

Sub Paragraph 2 Symbols

Although traditionally the dragon was associated with evil it was also regarded as a symbol for war. Viking ships proudly display the dragon prows. In England our most famous mythical king himself is named after the beast - Arthur Pendragon - pen meaning head and therefore his surname meaning the head dragon.
The dragon from the earliest times was united with the symbol of water due to the tales of its ascent from the waves. According to folklorists this is due to the reptilian nature.
Today the symbol of the dragon has filtered out across the world in the heraldry of the rich and famous and as a symbol of power and dominance.

Sub Paragraph 2 Slaying

One thing often associated with the dragon is slaying. This myth is universal and so many interpretations have arisen for the real reasoning behind it. This slaying is often associated with Saints, such as Saint George or Saint Michael, and often there are other min-dragons known as the mythical serpent which are slain or driven from the land, such as those Saint Patrick threw out of Ireland. One thing we do know about these "peists" (pests) is that they were not in fact snakes at all - but serpent worshippers or pagans that the Catholic authorities wanted eradicating.