The Pure Virgin And The Evil Dragon
- By Shaun Parker
- Published 11/17/2008
- Culture
- Unrated
Shaun Parker
Shaun Parker is a leading folklore expert with many years of experience in the myths and legends arena. Find out more about dragons den at http://www.applied.uk.com/dragons-den.htm
View all articles by Shaun Parker
When it comes to tales of old, the dragon must be the one that has captivated the imaginations of the young and old alike. Pretty much accepted as a figment of someone's imagination, stories of these creatures in a dragons den abound around the world as anything from the dark and mysterious to the light hearted.
Even the Catholic Church were happy to use dragons as a symbol of evil with the dragons den being viewed as hell. Indeed, we can see where the fire breathing comes from given that hell is said to be on fire. It was used as an image that would strike the fear of God into people, encouraging them to lead upright and moral lives.
The dragon itself is proposed to be a mix of bird, feline and serpent. It is designed to instil fear as the sight of a dragon means nothing more than death and destruction. Back in the times of the Vikings, dragons were used as figureheads on the prow of warships to make them look more menacing.
So, when it comes to this mythical creature, it stands as one of the most fearsome creatures in history. So, how sure can we be that dragons are not real? Well, there is no evidence of such creatures to be found in archaeology or fossils - so far. There is also no concrete proof of the Yeti or the Loch Ness monster but they have strong believers that dedicate much time to trying to see them in the flesh.
The dragon has changed little over the years in terms of appearance. It has the build of a large dinosaur, with a large head and large fire breathing nostrils. It has small ears and wings, with a long, strong, powerful tail. It lives in its dragons den, which is a place nobody ever enters and comes out of alive. The dragon will swoop down on unsuspecting peasants, breathing fire, destroying everything in its path and carrying off virgins for dinner.
All sounds a little far-fetched doesn't it? However, this view of a dragon has changed little for hundreds and hundreds of years. It has represented evil, been used as a tool to scare people and also as a tool to enable mere men to be hailed as heroes. Indeed, St George is seen as a slayer of dragons. This story hails from the Middle Ages and speaks of St George enticing the monster out of the dragons den and killing it after a bit of a battle and saving a princess from his jaws.
The princess is depicted as a pure, innocent virgin - a symbol of all that is good. The dragon is the epitome of evil and to be abhorred. The battle is, in essence, the battle of good against evil as in much of folklore. Until recently, good has always won out over evil and it is this theme that people like. They want to know that no matter what adversity we may face, that there is hope that good can win out eventually.
Even the Catholic Church were happy to use dragons as a symbol of evil with the dragons den being viewed as hell. Indeed, we can see where the fire breathing comes from given that hell is said to be on fire. It was used as an image that would strike the fear of God into people, encouraging them to lead upright and moral lives.
The dragon itself is proposed to be a mix of bird, feline and serpent. It is designed to instil fear as the sight of a dragon means nothing more than death and destruction. Back in the times of the Vikings, dragons were used as figureheads on the prow of warships to make them look more menacing.
So, when it comes to this mythical creature, it stands as one of the most fearsome creatures in history. So, how sure can we be that dragons are not real? Well, there is no evidence of such creatures to be found in archaeology or fossils - so far. There is also no concrete proof of the Yeti or the Loch Ness monster but they have strong believers that dedicate much time to trying to see them in the flesh.
The dragon has changed little over the years in terms of appearance. It has the build of a large dinosaur, with a large head and large fire breathing nostrils. It has small ears and wings, with a long, strong, powerful tail. It lives in its dragons den, which is a place nobody ever enters and comes out of alive. The dragon will swoop down on unsuspecting peasants, breathing fire, destroying everything in its path and carrying off virgins for dinner.
All sounds a little far-fetched doesn't it? However, this view of a dragon has changed little for hundreds and hundreds of years. It has represented evil, been used as a tool to scare people and also as a tool to enable mere men to be hailed as heroes. Indeed, St George is seen as a slayer of dragons. This story hails from the Middle Ages and speaks of St George enticing the monster out of the dragons den and killing it after a bit of a battle and saving a princess from his jaws.
The princess is depicted as a pure, innocent virgin - a symbol of all that is good. The dragon is the epitome of evil and to be abhorred. The battle is, in essence, the battle of good against evil as in much of folklore. Until recently, good has always won out over evil and it is this theme that people like. They want to know that no matter what adversity we may face, that there is hope that good can win out eventually.