The creatures we meet in fantasy novels are many and varied. In addition to those that are fictionalised on the basis of what is in our lives, those that are conceived in unimaginable ways also adorn dreams. So much so that they are even envisioned differently in different cultures.
Fantastic creatures appear according to the structure of the narrative and the story it contains. But think about it: if you had such a novel, what kind of monster would you want to include? Should it have extraordinary powers, or should it be a friendly and cute character? Should it terrorise its enemies or should it have human emotions? It can be huge or very colourful, who knows, it all depends on your creation.
The great thing about fantasy fiction is that it embraces diversity and can make sense of seemingly absurd structures. In this case, there is a sublime monster that pioneered the genre and is frequently used. So much so, in fact, that the creature that welcomes you into the realms of fiction is one that you encounter in different periods and cultures all over the world. I am talking about dragons, which have a folkloric permanence and have left their mark on many works.
Photo by Catrin Ellis on Unsplash
I have had some sympathy for dragons since I was a child. I know it’s a strange way to start, but don’t worry, I won’t talk about myself. But I think the main reason for this curiosity and sympathy is our interest in dinosaurs, which I have mentioned in my articles. Weren’t dinosaurs the indispensable destination of our huge encyclopaedias at home?
Strange Latin names, unimaginable shapes and features… It’s the kind of thing that would crown a child’s dream, that’s for sure. I used to think of dragons as cousins of dinosaurs. I don’t know, maybe I liked thinking that way, as if I could make sense of the evolutionary structure. Maybe the fact that I had no idea made them more interesting. It made them creatures worth exploring, worth paying attention to.
Then, over time, they appear again and again in the works we read. They appear on the covers of books, or they are guests in those familiar epics that have been told for centuries. Sometimes they act as antagonists, sometimes as mentors in stories full of symbolism.
Image by author
Now let’s move on to the other interesting side. I said in one sentence that they exist in both fiction and folklore. We’ve known for a long time that dinosaurs are real, but we can’t talk about dragons in the same way. So how did they become part of local narratives? Allow me to take a quick dive into the dusty shortcuts of my internet browser and share with you the notes from my research. (Yes, I researched dragons in my spare time and created folders with dozens of bookmarks, I told you I was sympathetic to dragons).
You will be surprised at how many dragon stories there are, as you can find stories about them from Asia (West, South, Northeast, Southeast), Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Americas. Of course, those that have come about through the imposition of popular culture are only the motifs of certain well-known cultures. These are the more artistically prominent ones, brought to the fore through films, fantasy novels, plays, sculptures, frescoes, paintings, epics, video games, songs and folk tunes.
I’m not going to write about them one by one, of course, but let’s talk about the reasons for these folk tales. As you know, there are a number of stories and rumours that are the subject of legends in the villages, which generally feel the need to be told in a more magical and mysterious way because they cannot make sense (and even these stories are genuinely believed). So much so that some places are only known for these stories. The dragon figure was also used here to represent the wild and rumbling animals that usually lurk in the darkness and kidnap (or harm) the villagers.
Medieval stories are candidates for fantasy novels in the truest sense of the word. Storm-makers, lightning-throwers, fire-breathers… In short, the tales of animals (and sometimes combinations of animals) of various sizes, colours and oddities, who dominate various elements, know how to create a terrifying effect on the ignorant and helpless people of the time.
Dragons in Slavic mythology are generally called “Zmey” (the name is similar in other Slavic languages), “Ryu” in Japanese tales (just one of many), “Dragon” in European tales (the best known and the one that gave the species its name), and “Wyvern” in Germanic tales (dragon and wyvern are not the same creature). Most of them have their own stories and are usually represented by one or more animals. The most common is the snake, but other reptiles such as lizards and pythons are also depicted. As well as features such as bird’s wings and lion’s claws, they can also be combined with legends of other, more fantastic creatures (sea serpent, cockatrice, hydra). The fact that they have more than one head or joint should not be too surprising at this point.
In my opinion, one of the most influential imaginary creatures in people’s lives (apart from real animals that are symbols of countries) was the dragon. For example, hundreds of years ago, when atlases were made, if there was no information about a land, or if the open seas (remember “sea serpent”) had not yet been conquered, a note would be left here with information. This note would be decorated with a drawing of a lion or dragon to indicate that there might be danger there. The note underneath would usually read “Hic sunt/abundant leones” or “Hic sunt dracones”, meaning “There are/abundant lions here” or “There are dragons here”.
Below you can see the decorations on the Psalter World Map, which are different from what I said.
Speaking of legends, we all know about St George and his fight against the dragon. The holiday associated with him is celebrated on 23 April in many countries around the world, especially in Europe. The dragon represents tyranny, fear, violence and the presence of evil, and St George overcomes all these evils in the name of Christianity. I also remember reading that this epithet was applied to the enemies of the Crusader armies.
On the contrary, in some Eastern mythologies the dragon story is approached from a more philosophical point of view and is a representation of hidden knowledge, virtue and supernatural power. In a global sense, however, the emphasis is on the obstacle or doctrine that must be tamed and over which time and effort must be expended. This can sometimes be the structure that points to the inherent evil of man. If you have watched animated series such as “Avatar” or “Dragon Ball” and thought about the underlying narrative, it may be more understandable.
Last but not least, Vlad Dracula III, the Vlad the Impaler. In short, the name “Drak” is another name for Slavic dragons. He was actually named after his father, Vlad Dracul II, who earned the nickname by becoming a member of the Order of the Dragon. The organisation was dedicated to preventing the Ottoman Empire from dominating Europe. As you might expect, the Order was to take on the role of the legendary St George, whom they adopted as their religious and military leader and symbol.
Fresco of St. Theodore and George as horsemen slaying the serpent. Göreme, Cappadocia, Yılanlı Kilise (“Snake Church”)
Throughout history, people have used powerful symbols to identify themselves. The symbols of countries have often been eagles, bears, lions or wolves, known for their ferocity. Symbols can emphasise the cultural and moral structure, the way of thinking or the understanding of the people. So the dragon has undoubtedly found its place at the top, perhaps not directly, but certainly in certain parts of history.
Even today we can still see it in various places. Tomorrow, 10 February, countries in the Far East will celebrate the Lunar New Year and enter the Year of the Dragon.
Photo by Tijana Acimovic on Unsplash
On the other hand, 4 astronauts landed on Earth today in SpaceX’s Dragon capsule from the International Space Station. It would be understandable to make a dragon analogy, with the spacecraft slithering through the sky like a snake.
Such fantastic structures, names or symbols prove once again that being imaginary does not prevent them from being part of reality. After all, we are the ones who bring them to life and make them a permanent part of our lives.
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