Many tales, medieval sagas and even the Russian byliny, tell of dragons or flying fire-breathing serpents, possessing an enviable invulnerability. The body of these monsters covered in armor-scales, and instead severed heads grew new.
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The mythological dragon is the symbol of a test which you must pass to get the treasure. It is associated with immortality, which can be obtained by invasion of the body of the monster (both outside and inside, for example, by ingestion of a dragon). The battle with the dragon is the first mystery with the symbol of temporary death and rebirth. A snake-marcheskie stories are based on first theme with the inversion relationship initiant — serpentine cartridge initiation
The first mention of the dragons belong to the ancient Sumerian culture. In ancient tales there are descriptions of dragons as amazing beings, not like any one animal and at the same time, having similarities with many of them. According to ancient Akkadian sources, the dragon was a dog's paws, lion's head and bird's wings. The image of a dragon appears in almost all creation myths. The sacred texts of ancient peoples identify it with the primordial power of the earth, the primordial Chaos.
You will agree that the legends of any people very different from the myths and legends of other ethnic groups. Every epic celebrates its heroes, each with their villains... the only Exception are dragons, which is mentioned both in the West and in the East...
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It should be mentioned, the Eastern dragon, it looks like a giant winged snake, Western is evil fire-breathing monster of enormous size, which is more like a dinosaur.
Peculiar collection of such descriptions have been gathered in the years 1863-1864 Robert chambers in his "Book of days". He found, in particular, the mention of the dragon as the beast, standing on two legs with spread wings." This creature can be seen as an Australian lizard running on two legs with swollen "ruffles" on the neck. This feature had some dinosaurs. However, lizards could not be scary huge, and the dinosaurs haven't existed in those days.
Sometimes describe dragons as huge snakes, like pythons or Boas. The Roman historian and writer Pliny the Elder wrote: "the Dragon is the largest serpent of all. Her power is in his teeth, and the tail, which it kills its victim. Even elephants are inferior to the dragon power. He could be lurking in the trail and wait, when the elephants go to drink.
Tracked down one of them, the dragon wraps around the leg of an elephant with its tail, tying it with a knot and holds the victim until it dies". Similarly suffocate their prey pythons and anacondas, the dimensions of which, according to travellers ' stories reach 20 and even 35 meters. Known case of death from Anaconda sir Peter Losi. Poor wound this huge snake and swallowed.
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It is not excluded that in the days of primitive man and dinosaurs still roamed in remote areas of our planet. Meeting people from these monsters could serve as the subjects of myths about dragons. Some modern scientists even admit the existence of dinosaurs into the present day.
The question is: how true are such stories? Whether there was in fact such a monster or gave birth to them a rich imagination of our ancestors?.. What people think about this and modern scientists?
The first who come to mind is the great reptiles of the Mesozoic era. According to scientists, among them were flying types. By the way, pterosaurs reached a wingspan of ten meters!
But those same stories tell us that a severed dragon head immediately grows back or grows again. Could it be that?.. Let us remember the lizards (also reptiles) with their ability to grow lost tails... Or crabs, regenerating claws, torn in fights... Or snails, which is cut off grow new heads!.. But among the animals are the real Champions to heal itself. So, if the earthworm is cut into pieces, each piece will grow a whole organism. And the Hydra is able to recover even after it has passed through a meat grinder!
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On this basis, it is easy to assume that our planet existed organisms that distinguish high ability to regenerate. Almost certainly, their severed parts would grow back as rapidly as it is stated in the tales. But let this exaggeration remains on the conscience of the soldiers themselves, who thus gave more weight to their own exploits.
Dragons in modern culture
Dragons of the modern age fantastic creatures, often radically different from the mythological.
In the 60-ies of XX century, the talented authors of science fiction spent the desacralization of the image of the dragon. Former status of the bearer of Absolute Evil has been replaced by the status of the other person or, sometimes, even a pet. But in the last decade of the XX and XXI century the first process went further, breaking the "zero" significance, the image of the dragon went in a positive direction. In the works of George Lockhart and Paul Shumila dragons not only no worse than the person, it's much better for their spiritual, physical qualities and development of technology.
Dragons paint professional artists: Todd Lockwood, Michael Whelan, Larry Elmore, Keith Parkinson, Gerald Brom, Frank Frazetta, Jeff Easley, Vladimir Bondar, John Howe
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Mythological images of dragons are embodied in architecture and sculpture, including specially created to attract tourists.
Trishaw in Indonesia, pfoto ru.wikipedia.org
For example, in the Ryazan region of the old garage was created carved ship-dragon. English artist Ptolemy Elrington built a ten-meter sculpture of a dragon from the wheel covers. And in China in 2007 was planned to build a new attraction — the dragon with a height of 30 meters and a length of 21 kilometers, which would be located on the ridge of the mountain Shizu in the Central province of Henan. Dragon was scheduled to be completed in 2009 for the 60th anniversary of the Communist regime in China.
The sculpture of the dragon in Singapore, pfoto ru.wikipedia.org
In the UK, in Wales it is planned to build 40-meter high observation tower with a statue of a dragon with a height of 25 meters. The dragon symbolizes the Welsh mythology can argue with the Statue of Liberty in new York and Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.
In honor of his great ancestor in China annually in late winter to celebrate the Holiday dragon. The most spectacular event in live entertainment, the festival of kites.
Dragons in heraldry
Winged dragon — a dragon with two legs;
Serpent — dragon with no wings;
Amphiptere — a serpentine dragon with wings but without feet;
The wyrm is a dragon with wings and paws the wyrm is described, on the contrary, as a dragon without wings and legs).
Deeper meaning of a symbol is determined by the posture of the dragon:
Rearing (standing on hind legs; with raised front);
Marching (marching; with a raised right front paw and looking right);
Standing (standing on all four feet, wings raised above its back, prostrate or proudeni, tail knotted).
Even deeper value is determined by color: black, red, green or gold.
Some examples of images of dragons in heraldry
On the flag of Bhutan the dragon symbolizes the people of the country. According to the Buddhist system, the orange half of the flag represents the spiritual realm of existence, yellow – earth life and the Royal power.
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Wales
"The Welsh Dragon" red fairy dragon painted on white and green silk"
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Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia
The coat of arms of Ljubljana the symbol of the city — the green dragon of Ljubljana.
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Iceland
On the heraldic shield of the figure of the national flag, supported by the four supporters, guardian spirit of Iceland. According to the sagas, they guard the island from the Danish kings.
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Dragons tattoos
The dragon is a classic tattoo which is popular among girls and men. The image of a dragon tattoo shows the profound influence that Japanese and Chinese culture have had a tattoo of the West for nearly two centuries. In the East the dragon is a symbol of the four elements: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water, as well as the four cardinal points: North, South, West, East. The dragon symbolises the water, the earth, sky and underworld.
The dragon is very popular as a image on the body (tattoo). The Prince of Wales (king Edward VII) had the body of a dragon tattooed prestigious master of Japan. The world's largest tattoo also dragon. She was placed on the backs of 20 people by the Japanese in 1804.
Color plays an Important role color tattoo. Dragon red has the most powerful energy. The softer impact at the blue dragon and the green serves its master with a protective background, without exerting an undue influence on his fate.
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Today you can see different dragon tattoo designs that show their different aspects: heavenly, protective or monstrous.
Dragon tattoo symbolizes magic, nobility, strength, imagination and transformation, faithfulness, perseverance, ability and strength to go beyond the ordinary. Also, very often, the tattoo dragon is a symbol of power and strength, a symbol of magical and spiritual qualities. The dragon is the most famous mythological creature in the world.
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One of the reasons that make the dragon tattoo popular is its rich colorful hues and bold design. There are a variety of ways images of dragons, because of this, it is very easy to create a creative pattern. Famous tattoos designs dragons of two types, which are used most often. First, Western Dragon with a thick scaly body, wings (which are like the wings of a bat) and a long neck. Second, the Eastern dragon, with a body similar to a serpent without wings. The popularity of the Western dragon due to the large number of mythological stories, and not due to the presence of deep meaning. Although they may have deep significance. For example, the Celtic Dragon "circle of life", shows the cyclical nature of life and expresses its pride in its historical roots. A Prime example can be considered a red dragon, the national symbol of Wales.
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About Eastern dragons, they represent something more than just an ordinary snake-like creature. Eastern dragons symbolize the natural elements: fire, water, earth and wind. They're not considered neither good nor evil, but they often symbolize the forces of nature that can be positive or negative.
Most of the tattoos depicting dragons make a colorful and vivid, but sometimes they operate in shades of grey or in black color. The combination of red and black, a great option, the execution of the tattoo, which is often used in flaming tattoos.
Western or European dragons are not so popular, and tattoos do with them much less frequently. This is mainly people born in this year or fans of the fantasy genre. Are these mythical creatures on any part of the body – neck, head, shoulder, hand, ankle, etc. Tattoo of dragons in European style, small size, and are drawn completely different. It can be as fire-breathing serpents, dragons and fabulous with touches faces. It will all depend on the extent of imagination
Dragons these days?
In 1917, the American pilot, who requested anonymity, told reporters that, flying at high altitude, he saw a winged dragon flying directly at his plane. The pilot, fortunately, managed to avoid a collision. This case formed the basis of the story of Arthur Conan Doyle's "the Horror".
More striking episode occurred in Crawfordsville in Indiana (USA). A local official of the City of Switzer, his wife, and some of the townspeople saw a dragon with a length of 6 meters and a width of 2.5 meters, flying at a height of 30 meters. Specialist in anomalous phenomena Vincent Gaddis investigated the case in April 1994 reported their results to journalists.
As it turned out, the monster appeared over the town the next two nights and the second night he saw hundreds of citizens. The dragon was flying at an altitude of one hundred meters, it is noisy clapping wings, and uttered a sharp whistling sound. At some point, the monster dived to the dumbfounded crowd and many felt his hot breath". Interesting testimony from witness also belongs to the dragon R. Dobson.
Early in the morning he was standing on top of a hill near the highway, Jeffer-Sona and suddenly saw in the sky over his head "monstrous monster with burning eyeballs and mouth gaping open, from which hung a blazing fire language". Released in 1998 the book "Excursion to the southern part of Maryland" mentions the case of observation of the dragon in 1998 on the banks of the river Pathak-sentensing named Ellen Kay.
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On the question of whether there are dragons now can confidently answer in the affirmative. Of course, we will have in mind the modern animals that received this honorary title. The closest of the modern fauna to the mythical dragons is the Komodo dragon, or the dragon of Komodo. Predator weighing 150 pounds and a body length of about 3 meters looks very much like the legendary beasts.
Source: tattook.ru;liveinternet.ru;fb.ru;ru.wikipedia.org;toddlockwood.com;dragons-nest.ru;duhovnyyput.ucoz.com