Almost all our early ancestors believed the earth was inhabited, especially in unknown regions, by dragons. Where did they get such an idea? Did it stem from a universal human imagination? An inherited need or instinct?


Etymology of "dragon"
The word "dragon," according to the Oxford English Dictionary (1966), is derived from the Old French, which in turn was derived from the Latin dracon (serpent).


Ubiquitous dragons
A modern book, The Greatest Monsters in the World, (1975), contains a chapter called "Dragons Everywhere." This title is accurate, because ancient belief in dragons appears to have been nearly universal, as far as we can determine from prehistoric art, legend, and the world's most ancient writings.

Dragons in Ancient Art
Perhaps the earliest evidence, however, is found in a prehistoric cave at La Baume, Latrone, France. Discovered in 1940 by Siegfried Giedion, some scientists have dated the cave at 20,000 years ago.

Dragons in Ancient Literature
In literature, dragons are certainly a virtually universal ancient motif. Dragons are found in the early literature of the English, Irish, Danish, Norse, Scandinavians, Germans, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Babylonians. Among the American Indians, legends of dragons flourished among the Crees, Algonquins, Onondagas, Ojibways, Hurons, Chinooks, Shoshones, and Alaskan Eskimos.

Dragons in the Bible
according to Genesis 1:24-25, land animals, as well as man and woman, were created on the sixth day. Thus, according to the Bible all animals were created at approximately the same time. There were no long ages when man was not present and when dinosaurs ruled the earth. The Authorized Version utilizes the word "dragon" sixteen times, all in the Old Testament, rendering two Hebrew words which mean "sea or land monster."


I propose that early humanity did encounter dragons. :)

There are far too many references to Dragons off and on throughout the histories of pretty much every culture for it to be coincidence.

Now there are various different thoughts on dragons as well-
Some have them as brutes that simply eat and burn out of instinct or aggression.
Some have them as sapient and cunning, often with hypnotic powers of persuasion. Take, for instance, the father of Dragons in the history of Lord of the Rings as presented in Silmarillion: Glaurung. He was sly, evil, and crafty. He had a lot of physical power and caused much destruction with his strength and flame. However the most greivous hurts that can be credited to him are a direct result of his lies and half truths designed to hurt Turin and his family.

In all honestly I think there have been 'dragons' in the form of physical manefestations of dark spirits. But they don't show up much any more.

I believe in dragons, too!

In all honestly I think there have been 'dragons' in the form of physical manefestations of dark spirits. But they don't show up much any more.

Even without having to rely on dark spirits, or other ethereal explanations, we only have the barest fossil record of prehistoric animals. Who's to say they absolutely did not, at one time, exist? Lack of proof, is not proof of non existence. For all anyone knows, dragons, (if they did exist), might have been like sharks, (for instance), in that little of their physical being can be fossilized.

True, DM

"Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet."

Psalm 91:13 (King James Version)

"In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea."

Isaiah 27:1 (New International Version)

"His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born."

Revelation 12:4 (New International Version)

"And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."

Revelation 20:2-3 (King James Version)

I would say I believe in dragons..too :)

according to Genesis 1:24-25, land animals, as well as man and woman, were created on the sixth day. Thus, according to the Bible all animals were created at approximately the same time. There were no long ages when man was not present and when dinosaurs ruled the earth. The Authorized Version utilizes the word "dragon" sixteen times, all in the Old Testament, rendering two Hebrew words which mean "sea or land monster." - I guess that'd be behemoth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behemoth) and leviathan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan)?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/Behemoth.jpg

"'The Destruction of Leviathan,' an engraving (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engraving) made in 1865 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1865) by Gustave Doré (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Dor%E9). The engraving
depicts God (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God) slaying the legendary Leviathan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan), a sea monster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_monster). Doré was inspired by
Isaiah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah) 27:1: 'In that day, the Lord will punish with His sword, His fierce, great and powerful
sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; He will slay the monster of the
sea.'":
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9d/Destruction_of_Leviathan.png

Slay the Dragon. :|

To me, the issue isn't 'if' they existed (because whats a dragon but a flying dinosaur?) but did they ever have a chance to exist with humans?

The art/literature sure suggests that, but I am not sure if that is enough proof.

There are far too many references to Dragons off and on throughout the histories of pretty much every culture for it to be coincidence.

I agree with that part of your post. :)


To me, the issue isn't 'if' they existed (because whats a dragon but a flying dinosaur?) but did they ever have a chance to exist with humans?

The art/literature sure suggests that, but I am not sure if that is enough proof.

I agree, dragons = some type of dinosaur.

Not only are there many cultures all over the world that have dragons in their folklore/'legend', but the artifacts/figurines, etc that have been found with images of man and dinosaurs interacting together date back to before the time that dinosaur fossils were even discovered, or the word 'dinosaur' was even around.

So, imo there were some sort of dinosaur type creatures that walked the earth at the same time as man, but at some point they got wiped out or died out.

Someone might've mentioned this, but take a look at this in the Bible:

"Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength he has in his loins, what power in the muscles of his belly! His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are close-knit. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like rods of iron. He ranks first among the works of God, yet his Maker can approach him with his sword." - Job 40:15-19

Some people have said that the Behemoth is a hippo or elephant, but those animals have little tails, not a tail that "sways like a cedar." The Bible also talks about the Leviathan, which unlike the Behemoth, sounds more like a fierce, terrifying creature.

ancient people just saw fossils and bones of dinosaurs and assumed they were dead dragons.
Probaby the same thing for the Griffin and the cyclops.


hat have been found with images of man and dinosaurs interacting together date back to before the time that dinosaur fossils were even discovered, or the word 'dinosaur' was even around.


That does'nt really mean any thing.
Most likely what happened was, as I said, people found fosilized dinosaur bones, said "hey look.. dragon!" and then came up with stories about how they were interacting with humans.. being killed by them more often than not. :)

imo there were some sort of dinosaur type creatures that walked the earth at the same time as man

I suppose it is possible that there could have been some brief period of time where there was a little corss over.. but the idea that humans and dinosaurs were living here at the same time during the height of the dinosaurs population is a bit far fetched.
It would have been pretty tough to start a civilization when a herd of brachiosaurs would just come along and stomp it down.

Slay the Dragon within. :|

This world could use a harnessed "reign of fire" right about now.



My favorite dragon was Puff.

This world could use a harnessed "reign of fire" right about now.



My favorite dragon was Puff.

I like HR Puff-N-Stuff.

I don't like the idea of burning down the world myself. I don't know why.

I like HR Puff-N-Stuff.

I don't like the idea of burning down the world myself. I don't know why.


Not the whole world, jojo...more like selective incineration.

Not the whole world, jojo...more like selective incineration.

Ok.

*flips switch to flame thrower on*

:w00t: Let's do it. I've got my targets in mind. :|

Ok.

*flips switch to flame thrower on*

:w00t: Let's do it. I've got my targets in mind. :|


Ditto.
Nothing cleanses like fire.

Won't really know for sure after all you'd have to do is find the proof of there existince first. Though I love dragons there really cool and I also think that at one point in time before humanity became very knowledgeable in how things really worked compared to the times aropund the 1600's or so even some before hand. They did indeed encounter Dragons.

Ditto.
Nothing cleanses like fire.

If we were fire breathing dragons, we could do more good work than a Zamboni. :|

The beetle you're thinking of is the Bombadier (sp?) Beetle in Africa I believe. I truely believe there were real dragons and maybe still are. The oldest book of the Bible, Job, in chapter 41 it talks about a real fire breathing dragon which the Lord created. I've always had a facination with that chapter - it's amazing. Dragons are mentioned throughout the Bible, old testiment and new. Especially in Revelations, John witnesses visions given to him by God and one is the Great Dragon that waits to devour the Baby the pregnant woman (Mary) is going to have. Dragons are used for analagies as well as actual physical beings. Their use in analagies as common place and the lack of discription for them allows one to wonder if they did this because of the common knowledge that everyone knew about Dragons. Just like they didn't really go into great detail about Christ's cruxifixion. It was because at the mention of cruxifixion everyone knew how horrible it was - the Romans would cruxify people in the streets and all over. Everyone knew what it looked like, what it involved so there was no need to say a whole lot about it. I get the feeling that it was the same involving Dragons. They were common place so they didn't have to describe them too much. It was safe to use them for analagies because everyone knew what they looked like, or their aggressive behavior - interpretted as the incarnation of Evil. Very cruel beasts. Anyways, I just wanted to contribute to the topic, very fasinating. I wonder if one could get a degree in Dragon research and History pertaining to the study of Dragon-lore. That would be awesome. Farewell -

Godspeed,
Nic

Anyways, I just wanted to contribute to the topic, very fasinating. I wonder if one could get a degree in Dragon research and History pertaining to the study of Dragon-lore. That would be awesome. Farewell -

Godspeed,
Nic

I think you'll enjoy this then. :)
http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/dragons/dragons.html

ancient people just saw fossils and bones of dinosaurs and assumed they were dead dragons.

Probaby the same thing for the Griffin and the cyclops.
:stupid:

:stupid:

Dragons are real!! :|

no they're not hon. :)

It'd be fun if dragons were real, but at this point my brain does'nt allow me to believe they were anything other than stories invented when people found dinosaur fossil or bones laying about..

still..

http://www.trueauthority.com/dinosaurs/dinosaurhistory.htm

no they're not hon. :)
Yes they are :mad:
It'd be fun if dragons were real, but at this point my brain does'nt allow me to believe they were anything other than stories invented when people found dinosaur fossil or bones laying about..

still..

http://www.trueauthority.com/dinosaurs/dinosaurhistory.htm


I think I posted that link already in my first post. :p

i dont think so.. no link on your first post.
unless I am crazy. which is a distinct possiblity.

i dont think so.. no link on your first post.
unless I am crazy. which is a distinct possiblity.

You don't believe in anything anymore..do you! :mad:

not much, hon. not much.

not much, hon. not much.


Hah! You lie.. You believe in the smiley queen :nice:

Ps. Don't forget to watch March 20th animal planet 8pm my time. :D

Oh Im totaly gonna tivo the hell out of it!

Did anyone watch 'The Last Dragon' on channel 4 the other day? (british tv). That was really good, and good animation thingies. They found a fair bit of conclusive evidence for the existence of dragons (or was it a dramatisation? I only watched a little). They found some bones and stuff qutie high up in a mountain somewhere, they people looked like vikings... :|. Was it just a dramatised documentary and am i being dumb?

-Rashid786-

that looks pretty cool.
you can see a clip of the movie here:

http://www.cgchannel.com/news/viewfeature.jsp?newsid=3872

Wow the movie looks awesome! I wonder how one can get ahold of that? hmmm ... :confused: The "Dragons Are Coming" special on Animal Planet looks great too, I discovered that was coming out last week as a matter of fact! I'm looking foward to it very much!

that movie is comming out on dvd next month I think.

oh, from the looks of it these two shows are one in the same.

I was thinking of giing a reasoned arguement against the vast majority of believers, but I decided instead to say:

Are you all mad?!?!?!?!

Dragons? pfft you'll be believing in religion next.

I believe in Santa too.