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Dragons of Greece
Well known for it's pantheon of gods and goddesses, not to mention fabulous creatures, Greece has many wonderful examples of dragons to list here. Most of their dragons are fierce, terrifying creatures that are some of the earliest Western Dragons known. However, both the Greeks and the Romans believed that they had the ability to understand and to teach mortals the secrets of the earth. Because they were so deadly, while still being thought of as wise, they were often used as military symbols. Greek dragons appeared to be Guardian Dragons of gigantic proportions. They weren't usually there just because they liked it. They were used most often by the gods to either further their plans, or to guard items the gods found too precious for others. There are, of course, a few exceptions. Punishments could get someone turned into a dragonish creature, or they could just be a dragon like the Lernean Hydra. Mostly though, they existed for a purpose.
~Typhon~
Typhon was the son of Gaia(Earth) and Tartarus(Underworld). He had a hundred dragon heads and scaled legs and thighs, was taller than mountains, had wings, and breathed fire. Sometimes it is said that his body had feathers, other times that his body was all snakes. Typhoons are named after him. At one point, he attacked and imprisoned Zeus, who had to be rescued by Hermes and Pan. Zeus then imprisoned Typhon. Some myths say he was trapped in the underworld and others that he was placed under Mt. Aetna. He was believed to cause dangerous winds and earthquakes. He was the father of the Chimaera, the Lernean Hydra, Cereberus(Cerberus), the Nemean Lion, and the Sphinx. Their mother was Typhon's own sister, the monster Echidna.
~Delphyne~
The dragoness that guarded Zeus while he was held captive by Typhon. Her mate is said to have been named Delphynes.
~The Lernean Hydra~
The Lernean Hydra is from the species water dragon that lived in the swamp of Lerna in Argolis. It was said that it had nine heads, (or five, or a hundred...although nine is standard,) one of which was immortal and could not be harmed by weapons. To make things even trickier, for each head you cut off two more grew in it's place. In some myths, it is said that it merely regrew a new one. It had deadly venom, and it's blood was poisonous. The stench from it's breath was just as deadly as it's venom, and it was huge. Standing at least twice the height of Hercules/Herakles himself, it would rise from the swamp to slay men and cattle to feed itself.
~Ladon~
A multi-headed dragon said to guard Hera's wedding present...The Apples of the Hesperides. He was killed by Hercules' shooting an arrow at him from over the wall.
~Scylla or Skylla~
Scylla was once a beautiful nymph, but she spurned the attentions of a suitor. The suitor ran to Circe, who also loved him, and told her about his hopeless quest for the lovely nymph. Circe became jealous of Scylla, and decided to get even. She filled the sea where Scylla was bathing with serpents, and using magic, transformed her into a sea-monster that had six heads, with a ring of barking dogs around her waist. Ashamed of how she looked, Scylla hid in a cave in the strait of Messina. She seizes sailors as they pass through and eats them.
~The Wyvern~
This is a small, vicious, two legged creature who was said to bring pestilence not only to the people of Greece, but also Africa and Europe. It has a dragon body, two legs that are shaped like eagle's talons, and has wings. In later depictions, it lost it's fierceness, and no longer brought pestilence.
~Dragons of Demeter's Chariot~
The earth goddess Demeter (Roman-'Ceres') had a wonderful chariot pulled by two winged serpents. They were huge, and were faithful and safe only to Demeter and those she gave permission to drive her chariot. Anyone else could expect a swift death.
~The Amphisbæna~
This creature is not truly a dragon, but is more of a strange serpent. It's name means 'goes both ways' in Greek. It is described as having two heads, one on each end, and a snake's body. Pliny wrote that if you wear a live amphisbæna and you are pregnant, it will protect you. He also said that if you wear a dead one it will cure your rheumatism.
~Oroboros -Tail-biter~
A dragon-ish creature pictured biting it's own tail. It is meant to represent the cycle of life as it is simultaneously eating, fertilizing and giving birth to itself. Usually, we think of this picture as only being a snake, but many pictures show the creature with four feet instead of none.
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