European dragon

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European dragon

Illustration of a winged dragon by Friedrich Justin Bertuch, 1806.
Grouping	legendary creature
Sub grouping	dragon
Similar entities	other dragons
Folklore	Medieval folklore
Region	Europe and the Mediterranean region
Habitat	lairs, caves, castles, mountains

The European dragon is a legendary creature in folklore and mythology among the overlapping cultures of Europe.

The Roman poet Virgil in his poem Culex lines 163–201,^[1] describing a shepherd battling a big constricting snake, calls it "serpens" and also "draco", showing that in his time the two words probably could mean the same thing.

In and after the early Middle Ages, the European dragon is typically depicted as a large, fire-breathing, scaly, horned, lizard-like creature; the creature also has leathery, bat-like wings, four legs, and a long, muscular prehensile tail. Some depictions show dragons with one or more of: feathered wings, crests, ear frills, fiery manes, ivory spikes running down its spine, and various exotic decorations.

In folktales, dragon's blood often contains unique powers, keeping them alive for longer or giving them poisonous or acidic properties. The typical dragon in Christian culture protects a cavern or castle filled with gold and treasure. An evil dragon is often associated with a great hero who tries to slay it, and a good one is said to give support or wise advice.

Though a winged creature, the dragon is generally to be found in its underground lair, a cave that identifies it as an ancient creature of earth.^{[citation needed]} Dragons have been mentioned in European literature since antiquity. In some accounts, the hero Sigurð defeats Fáfnir by digging a pit and then lying in wait, piercing his heart with a sword as he passes overhead and slaying him. This concept is also seen in various other dragon stories. In many portrayals of the European dragon, it is shown as a greedy beast who wanted wealth and other valuables. This includes the prominent dragons in Germanic mythology, Fáfnir and the killer of Beowulf.^[2]