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Amphiptere
The amphiptere was a winged, legless serpent found in Arabia and believed to be the guardian of the frankencense tree. It also has a counter part found in Mexico, the Quetzalcoatl. Quetzalcoatl ("the plummed serpent") was a mythological figure of a mesoamerican patheon dating from 1200 B.C. It was probably linked to the quetzal, a brightly feathered bird with long tail feathers that looked like flames when it flew. Quetzalcoatl symbolized the blending of heaven and earth as well as the planet Venus, wind, the breath of life, discovery of corn, invention of writing, the arts, birth and renewel.
Amphisbaena
The amphisbaena is found in Africa and considered to be evil. It has two heads, one on its neck and one at the base of its tail. It can stick one head inside the mouth of another and roll wherever it wants to go. It is venomous. There is a modern day lizard named after this creature because it has markings on its tail that look like a second head.
Chia
The chia is Chinese and lives in mountains or on land. It symbolizes statesmen.
Cockatrice
Amphisbaena
The cockatrice, also sometimes known as the basilisk, is the hybrid of a cock and a wyvern. It hatches from a nine year old cock's egg and is incubated
by a toad on a dunghill. Some are said to have gazes that could turn a
living creature to stone.
Dragon Kings
(Chinese) There were four High Dragon Kings and many local ones. The local ones were more respected by the people. Every watercourse and well has its own dragon king and was appeased when there was too little or too much rain. The idea of the dragon kings spread to other lands, such as Japan.
Firedrakes
(Celtic/Germanic) Firedrakes livein in caves and guarded treasure. They breathed fire. the dragon that was killed by Beowulf was probably a firedrake.
Guivre
The guivre was a large, powerful serpent. It had no legs or wings. Its head was horned and bearded.
Hydra
The hydra was a multi-headed monster that originated in Greece. Hercules klled one as one of the several tasks given to him by his brother.
Lindworm
A lindworm looked like a serpent with two legs. It had no wings but had a dragon's head. It was thought to eat cattle and bodies and to invade churches. It was a symbol of war and pestilance.
Lung
The lung was a Chinese imperial dragon. Its head pointed to the south while its tail pointed to the north. It had five claws on each foot. The lung was a symbol of rain, the east and the sun.
Naga
The naga originated in India and many were worshipped as gods. Others worked for the gods and were the patrons of water and clouds. A naga had a human head with a serpentine body and no wings. Some could shape change and were said to be magical.
Ouroboros
The ouroboros was a large serpent like dragon that either held its own tail in its mouth or swallowed it. It Ouroboros
originated in Egypt
and spread to other lands. It was a
symbol of eternity.
Peist
The peist was an Irish water dwelling dragon. When St. Patrick drove the snakes from Ireland, he imprisioned the peist in their watery homes.
Penezny smij
The penezny smij were Lithuanian penny dragons. They were believed to bring wealth. They will leave out a three penny piece. If you pick it up, the next day they'll leave a six penny piece. The next day, they'll leave a dollar. If you pick it up, all is well. If you don't, they'll set your house on fire. The only way to get rid of the dollar is to sell it for less its worth.
Puk
A puk was a small, four footed dragon. It would bring stolen goods to its master. The puk originated in Scandaniva or Brittain, than spread out from Germany.
Wyvern
Wyverns were two legged, two winged serpent-like creatures. It had eagle's talons and a barbed tail. They did not breath fire. They were symbols of envy, war and pestilance and were known to be fierce and viscious.
Next
Lair of the Dragon
Dragon's Gold
Western Dragon
Through History
Other Historical Dragons
Dragons of the East
Dragons among the Stars
Dragon Links
Sign
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Thanks to Tink's Doodle's for the background.
Thanks to Grab n'Go Graphics for the buttons.
