Komodo Dragons
Here Be Dragons
Dragon Lore

DRAGON
Webster's Dictionary: drag.on \'drag-en\ n dracon-,draco serpent,dragon,
[fr.GK drakon;akin to OE torht bright,Gk derkesthai to see,look at]
1 archaic: a huge serpent
2:a fabulous animal usually represented as a monstrous winged and scaly serpent
or saurian with a crested head and enormous claws.

PHYSIOLOGY: Thick, long bodied, scaly skin, four strong legs,
two bat-like wings, wedge-shaped heads, and long necks.
They usually are portrayed as breathing fire.
Some breeds of these dragons have been known to be shape changers,
and others have the chameleon power to change color of their background.
They are sometimes displayed as having a spade or spiked tail.
They eat but once a month on a sheep or ox,
or even a human (myth says they prefer virgin maidens).
They can be any color, or many colors, depending on the breed of the dragon.

A dragon's life is a very long one compared to humans.
On the average, dragons live 1,200 human years.
A dragon's life is not boring by any means.
They live to learn, and to gather knowledge, as well as a huge hoard of treasure.
Gathering knowledge of every type, from how a sword gets forged,
to how insects help the environment,
is a high priority in a dragons life, and does take up a good part of a dragon's day.
If a person has knowledge the dragon does not have,
after it learns it (willingly given from the person),
it will give that person a token of gratitude such as a trinket from its own treasure.

Many theories have been set forth proposing to explain the virtually
universal belief in dragons among ancient peoples.
Some have seen dragons as a product of the human imagination,
resulting from fear of the unknown.
It has been pointed out that as late as 1600 A.D.,
maps were decorated about the borders of unknown regions
with drawings of dragon-like monsters.
Yet it is hard to imagine how such widely separated people groups
all imagined virtually the same thing,
if that imagined entity had no basis in reality or in their experience.

The Dragon is a composite animal with hot and cold blooded features,
so it is a symbol of the changing seasons.
It is foremost a snake that rejuvenates its skin.
Its bird wings give flight to the spirit.
It has the mane of a horse and the fins of a fish.
The beard is a sign of wisdom and the antlers are the emblem of royalty and renewal.
The winged serpent unifies the 4 elements:
it is born in the water, breathes fire, inhabits the air, and guards the earth's treasures.

The Dragon is the most universal motif linked to humanity for 5,000 years.
The word dragon comes from "derkesthai" (Greek: to glance dartingly) which,
in a Hindu tradition, was the hungry look of the very first
being when its fiery spirit was born out of the abyss of water.
The Dragon's Eye symbol stands for the balance of love, power and wisdom.
Triple triangles are associated with the Goddess and the nine Muses.