dragoon

The dragon is a legendary creature of which some interpretation or depiction appears in almost every culture worldwide. The physical description and supposed abilities of the creature vary immensely according to the different cultures in which it appears. However, the unifying feature of almost all interpretations is it being a serpentine or otherwise reptilian monster (or at least possessing a serpentine/reptilian part or trait), and often possessing magical or spiritual qualities.

The two most familiar interpretations of dragons are either European dragons, derived from various European folk traditions, or unrelated Oriental dragons, derived from the Chinese dragon (lóng,龍,龙). The word "dragon" derives from Greek δράκων (drakōn), "a serpent of huge size, a python, a dragon" and that from δρακεῖν (drakein) aorist infinitive active of the verb δέρκομαι (derkomai) "I see clearly".


Dragons are usually shown in modern times with a body like a big lizard, or a snake with two pairs of lizard-type legs, and able to emit fire from its mouth. The European dragon has bat-type wings growing from its back. A dragon-like animal with no front legs and walking only on its back legs is a wyvern. Following discovery of how pterosaurs walked on the ground, some dragons have been drawn without front legs and using the wings as front legs pterosaur-fashion when on the ground, as in this image and in the movie Reign of Fire.

Overview.

Like most mythological creatures, dragons are perceived in different ways by different cultures. Dragons are sometimes said to breathe and spit fire or poison.

They are commonly portrayed as serpentine or reptilian, hatching from eggs and possessing typically feathered or scaly bodies. They are sometimes portrayed as having large yellow or red eyes, a feature that is the origin for the word for dragon in many cultures. They are sometimes portrayed with a row of dorsal spines, keeled scales, or leathery bat-like wings. Winged dragons are usually portrayed only in European dragons while Oriental versions of the dragon resemble large snakes.

Dragons can have a variable number of legs: none, two, four, or more when it comes to early European literature. Modern depictions of dragons tend to be larger than their original representations, which were often smaller than humans.


Although dragons occur in many legends around the world, different cultures have varying stories about monsters that have been grouped together under the dragon label.






Dragons are often held to have major spiritual significance in various religions and cultures around the world. In many Asian cultures dragons were, and in some cultures still are, revered as representative of the primal forces of nature, religion and the universe. They are associated with wisdom—often said to be wiser than humans—and longevity. They are commonly said to possess some form of magic or other supernatural power, and are often associated with wells, rain, and rivers. In some cultures, they are also said to be capable of human speech.


The term dragoon, for infantry that move around by horse yet still fight as foot soldiers, is derived from their early firearm, the "dragon", a wide-bore musket that spat flame when it fired, and was thus named for the mythical creature.


The dragons were represented over time as major reptiles or snakes that possess magical or spiritual qualities. The etymology or origin of its name comes from the Latin: draco, draconis, and is a term that refers to a mythological animal, although it is named for a type of plant, for its flowers, which resemble a dragon head.


For reasons of analogy, is also called "dragon" to a species of fish, a constellation and a corps of infantry, the Dragon or charreteras employing soldiers and dragons painted or carved on their banner in their guns. Dragoncillo is the name of a gun that spits fire.

Bones of Dragons.

Returning to these fantastic beings, in Western representations generally shows the winged, scaly body and they are given the ability to breathe fire or throw.


Eastern mythology shows are not usually like this. It is not known the source of his physical appearance, although it is estimated that was born spontaneously in different cultures of the world freely based on the appearance of a snake and a dinosaur.






Various cultures around the world have perceived it differently. Chinese dragons and the eastern considered benevolent, dragons while Europeans tend to be malevolent (although there are exceptions to these rules). The evil dragon is also found in Persian mythology, for example, Azhi Dahak-and in other cultures.


Many times, the Dragons have an important spiritual significance. In East is revered as a symbol of the forces of nature and the universe. They are often associated with wisdom and longevity; legends in Korean, Chinese and Japanese will give them magical powers and supernatural positive energy.


In some cultures are attributes the gift of speech and human qualities. Animals are extremely popular board games, literature and videos, especially in role-playing.


During the Middle Ages, dragons were considered a symbol of apostasy and treason, but also from anger and envy. The dragons of various heads meant decadence, oppression and heresy, but were also regarded as an emblem of independence.


Many dragons representing wisdom. Kill a dragon was considered a passport to wealth, and the demonstration that a hero was really clever and cunning. An example of this symbolism is found in famous German epics: The Song of the Nibelungen, whose hero Siegfried (Siegfried or Sigfried) defeats the dragon Fafner-custodian of the Nibelungen treasure, which allows it to become the owner of this fortune and bathe in the blood of this fantastic creature. This transforms it into an invulnerable be virtually invincible except for the small "weak point" how well they will draw the traitor to beat Hagen.

The dragons in Christianity.

The Latin word draco, which gave rise to the word "dragon", means "the serpent", why Christianity has historically associated with this animal sinful and evil.

The identification of the biblical hell with the snake originated the connotation of "evil" associated with "dragon". In the Book of Job describes the sea monster Leviathan with characteristics of the dragon, which is called "King of the Beasts". In the book of Revelation 12:3 describes a huge red beast with seven heads, whose tail sweeps one third of the stars of heaven on earth. This issue is related to the fall of the angels.







Finally, in some translations of the word "dragon" is used to describe the Beast (ie the Devil), while in religious iconography will represent some Christian saints in the act of killing a dragon. This is a classic illustration of St. George that appears in English legends and Aragon. In Italy also represents the Holy Mercurialis, first bishop of the town of Forli, fighting and killing a dragon.
Some people think that dragons really existed in ancient times, inspired by fantastic legends that they claim. Others believe they were a biological variant of the dinosaurs, although there is no empirical evidence to support this thesis. Archaeologists and researchers say that there criptozoología giant lizards qualities similar to those attributed to the Dragons, who called it "Megalania." However, it is not feasible to say that were treated in the same class of animals.


Another less widespread belief is that the dragons were actually a kind of flying machines created by some unknown ancient culture. This hypothesis today is considered pseudo-science.


Formerly it was plausible to argue that the first dinosaur fossils were found, in fact, dragon bones. A discovery made by Chang Qu during the third century BC in Sichuan, China, described the remains with that label.