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His Majesty's Dragon
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HMD: So when did did dragons first become friendly?
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There's been friendly dragons at least as far back as the late 1800's (The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame). I seem to recall some from older mythology but can't name any off hand. In the 60's you've got Puff the Magic Dragon and the dragons from Pern and in the 70's the metallic dragons from Dungeons and Dragons and Pete's Dragon.
IN Chinese mythology dragons are symbols of good luck, fortune, and wisdom. In those stories often act like Yoda, giving advice to adventurers and future leaders.I can't help but notice that Tamerarie is a Chinese dragon, and so from this mythology rather than from the Western cannon.
Dustin wrote: "Secondly, was Smaug the turning point for dragons having wings? I heard he was origina..."In Middle-Earth history Ancalagon was the first winged dragon back during the War of Wrath.
The depiction of the European style dragons with wings in general goes back to at least the middle ages.
Isn't Grendel from Beowulf a dragon? Norse mythology had wyrms, no wings and definitely not friendly. The St. George's dragon had wings I think so medieval stuff they were getting wings but still were scary animals.According to Wikipedia the norse had at least one helpful dragon in their legends.
Grendel's more like an ape-man. Here's what Google Images comes up with: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&a...
There are a lot of stories (The Lyndwrym, the Laidly dragon, etc.) about people being turned into dragons, and then being rescued by some knight or fair maiden. While dragons, the "cursed" people may or may not be violent.Usually in Greek mythology, the dragons are guarding some treasure or another, and it's not always clear if that's because that treasure is their own or if they're doing it for someone else. The Golden Fleece is guarded by a dragon, for example. Medea had a chariot pulled by dragons. Cadmus (the legendary founder of Thebes) kills a dragon that was the pet of Ares and the felt so bad about it that he wishes for the gods to turn him into one. When they do, his wife wants the same thing. The precursor to later transformation myths?
Sometimes, dragons aren't good or evil, but represent a force of nature, and I think that's where the shift to "dragons are people too" comes from. That is, dragons might be more or less neutral (or, at least, threatening and fierce--like nature itself) but the 20th century transition into more green and environmental politics has seen them turn into something more benevolent.
Dustin wrote: "Secondly, was Smaug the turning point for dragons having wings? I heard he was originally written as a land based dragon and instead sank at Lake Town. "The red dragon on the Welsh flag has wings and as a flag and battle standard that dates back to the 1400's. In Welsh poetry there are mentions of dragons going back to the 800's, but I don't know if they mention them having wings or flying.
The Welsh one goes back a long way. I just bought a book on Welsh myth so I will let you know on the wings.I guess it depends what the dragon depicts in the myth - if it is guarding a treasure then it might be a tinsy bit annoyed when the adventures turn up to steal its loot. Dragons are often depicted as magical.
Michele wrote: "Isn't Grendel from Beowulf a dragon? Norse mythology had wyrms, no wings and definitely not friendly. The St. George's dragon had wings I think so medieval stuff they were getting wings but still w..."As said, Grendel isn't a dragon. The second part (or third, depending on how it's divided) of Beowulf does have a dragon. I'm not sure if it has wings or not though.
In Chinese lore a dragon is an omen of good tidings. The Reluctant Dragon is an 1898 children's story by Kenneth Grahame that has the dragon as a sympathetic character.
European dragons have long been both the winged and wingless types. look at the depictions of Saint George slaying the dragon at different times. You'll see both types.
European dragons have long been both the winged and wingless types. look at the depictions of Saint George slaying the dragon at different times. You'll see both types.
Michele wrote: "Isn't Grendel from Beowulf a dragon?"Not in the original epic, but the recent animated adaptation of Beowulf (co-written by Neil Gaiman) established a connection between Grendel and the dragon Beowulf fights at the end of his life. (view spoiler)
Secondly, was Smaug the turning point for dragons having wings? I heard he was originally written as a land based dragon and instead sank at Lake Town.