Myths about Dragons

Hic sunt dracones — «here dwell dragons». This charming phrase, traditionally denoting uncharted territories, encapsulates the fear, awe, and admiration that people have felt towards dragons since ancient times. Myths and legends about these beautiful and dangerous creatures are found on every continent except Antarctica. Vikings adorned the prows of their longships with intricately carved dragon heads, Aztec priests offered food and incense to the great god Quetzalcoatl, and Australian aborigines celebrated the world-creating Rainbow Serpent through songs and rock paintings. This book invites you to embark on a grand cultural adventure in the footsteps of dragons. Along the way, you will encounter serpents, nakers, lindworms, basilisks, wyverns, and strange monsters described by ancient authors and European travelers, as well as heroes of local legends: the Lernaean Hydra and the gorgon Medusa, Gorynych the Dragon and Fafnir, the demon Melusine, whom Richard the Lionheart considered a descendant of, and the snake-like Chinese goddess Nüwa, the mother and protector of all humanity, the Japanese sea god Ryujin, and the harbinger of Ragnarok, Jormungandr.