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Dragons of Norway
^Norse Dragons and Serpents^
There are many different types of Norse dragons throughout their myths and legends. Several sagas were even written telling the life and death struggles of the heroes who had to deal with them.
In the North, dragons were mostly associated with water. They lived in cold seas, misty lakes, storms, and fogs. Sometimes they laired in deep underground caverns, and came out only if they were hungry, or a good thunderstorm was underway. Most of them were serpent dragons, although a few had other dragon-ish characteristics. The Norse were known for their respect of dragons, but it is clear that most Norse dragons were 'chaotic' types. Though they caused destruction, it was so something new and wonderful could be made.
The Norse used dragons as guardians for many things. They put intricately carved heads on the prow of their boats, on churches, and on buildings to frighten enemies, and to ward off the elements. In fact, dragons were apparently so numerous, that in some parts of Scandinavia and Northern Germany they were said to be as common to see in flight as migrating birds! They even named many of their towns and cities after dragons! Drakelow, Drakeford, Draconis, Draga, etc. Here are a few of the more famous Norse dragons.
~Fafnir~
The large dragon who, in the Old German Tale of the Volsungs, guards the treasures of light and is killed by Sigurd. Originally, he was human, but he killed his father for his treasure and turned into a dragon due to his greed. Fafnir and Sigurd actually have quite a long conversation in which Fafnir gives Sigurd a lot of information that mortals normally wouldn't know. He told Sigurd of the treachery of his teacher, Regin, who was truly evil. He also gave Sigurd some good advice about the gold being a curse rather than a treasure, but of course Sigurd did not listen. Sigurd hid in a trench and stabbed the soft underbelly of Fafnir as he came out to drink at the river. A drop of Fafnir's blood got into Sigurd's mouth, and he was able to understand the language of birds. Sigurd also took the birds' advice, and bathed in the blood, thus making him invulnerable. He is shaped more like the Western dragons. Four feet, terrifying red eyes, able to breathe fire, etc., etc. Fafnir was very wise, and though all of his advice came as he lay dying, it was still kind of him to give it. Poor Sigurd had been trained by an evil dwarf, and tricked into killing the dragon so that the dwarf could get his hands on the treasure.
~Jormungand~ (World Serpent, Midgard Serpent, Midgaard Serpent, Jormungandr, Iormungand, and many others)
One of the three children of Loki, the Midgard Serpent encircles the world with his many coils. He is long enough that he can swallow his own tail. One of the myths surrounding him, is the fateful fishing trip of Thor and his companion Hymir. While out fishing one day, Thor himself caught this serpent, and since they were mortal enemies, he tried to slay it. Of course the Midgard Serpent would have done the same to Thor but this would have precipitated Ragnarok, or the end of the world. So his fishing companion cut the line, and freed the serpent, thereby making Thor angry. Thor knocked Hymir out of the boat, but luckily Hymir arrived safe on the land. The Midgard Serpent and Thor will square off in the great battle of Ragnarok, and Thor will kill him with a great blow by his hammer Mjollnir, however he will die from the poison of the serpent. The Midgard Serpent is described as being a small serpent at first, but when thrown into the sea grew to enormous size. In fact, it grew so large that it eventually bit at it's own tail, encircling the world. This is important, because it is said that if he ever lets go of his tail, the world will disintegrate into chaos!
~Nidhogg~
This is the serpent dragon that knaws the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. He is considered a dragon of chaos, because from destruction, new life can be made. He is also the one responsible for stripping the flesh from corpses, which explains decomposition. (Yuck!) One day he will succeed in eating away at the Tree and it will die. This is of course during Ragnarok, because the Norns who replenish the Tree from the Well of Fate will be too busy to help the Tree heal itself. He is assisted in his task by smaller serpents named Graback, Grafvolluth, Goin and Moin. They live in Niflheim (House of Mists) which is in the far northern region of icy fogs and mists, darkness and cold, on the lowest level of the universe. Helheim, or the realm of death, is also part of this region. Niflheim lies underneath the third root of Yggdrasil. Also situated on this level is Nastrond, the Shore of Corpses. This is where Nidhogg eats the corpses and gnaws on the root of the Tree.
~Tatzlwurm~
A small, extremely poisonous dragon with two legs, although sometimes depicted with four, almost impenetrable scales, and able to leap up to two or three yards at a time. Just it's breath is said to be deadly to humans, and it is highly aggressive. It will attack anything that moves within it's vicinity.
~Grendel and his Mother~
These were the dragons that plagued The King of Denmark. Some say these were not dragons, but many believe that they were dragons who had merely taken humanoid forms. I am one of the latter. The reason I have for this, is that these creatures behaved in similar ways to the rest of the dragons in Norse myths. They created chaos, and in it's wake peace reigned over the kingdom. The King of Denmark was also forced to build a new feast hall that was even more wonderful than the first because of the trouble, and with the slaying of these creatures Beowulf became a famous hero, and was able to save many others because of the faith people put in his word-fame afterwards.They are both described as monstrous, with scales and sharp teeth, and they live in an underwater lair which sounds remarkably like lairs ascribed to water dragons/sea dragons. If you read the verse I have chosen to add here, you will see that the denizens of this horrible lake are mostly snake-like, or flat out stated as dragons. This leads me to believe that these two creatures may just have been meant as water dragons of some type, though they never really come out and say it.
"Sometimes a horn sang out,
an eager war song, but
the troop all waited, watching
along the water the kin
of snakes, strange sea dragons,
swimming in the deep or
lying on the steep slopes--
water monsters, serpents, and
wild beasts, such as the ones
that appear on a dangerous
sea journey in the morning time.
When those creatures heard
the war horn's note
they hurried away
bitter and angry."
Adaptation from the Old English version of 'Beowulf' by Dr. David Breeden 'Beowulf' - Culture Cafe
Notice the amount of serpent-like creatures that inhabit this lake with Grendel and his mother. Far too many for them to not be of a 'like' nature.
The first dragon(Grendel) came in the semi-form of a man, meaning he had two legs. Grendel could not be harmed by normal weapons nor did he ever use them in an attack. Beowulf fought him bare-handed, which was a mark of honor in that he refused to fight with a weapon when his opponent was himself unarmed. He ripped off the monster's arm, and it states in the poem that due to the severity of the injury, Grendel would die soon. The second dragon was Grendel's mother. His mother was even more ferocious than Grendel was. She escaped with, and eventually killed, Beowulf's most trusted companion. Beowulf followed her back to the lake they lived in and dove in after her. There he apparently found an underwater cave where she had placed the body of Grendel. After a horrible battle, Beowulf killed the female dragon too.
Beowulf also met another dragon.
The Hoard-Keeper
This is the only name I could find for the last dragon Beowulf fought. Though the Hoard-Keeper hadn't bothered anyone the whole time it lived above their town in it's hidden cave where it guarded the treasure of an ancient king, it eventually became the victim of a thief. When it could not find him, it took it's revenge out on everyone else in the area.
Here is his description before he was robbed...
An old night-ravager,
that one which, burning,
seeks a burial mound,
the smooth dragon of malice who flies by night
encompassed in fire,
found the hoard
standing open.
Earth dwellers fear him much.
He must seek a hoard
in the earth, where,
old in winters, he
will guard heathen
gold, though he gains
nothing from it.
After the thief had stolen a cup that belonged to it, the dragon got angry!
The beginning was fearful
to people in the land,
as was the ending:
death for their king.
The fiend spouted fire,
burned bright houses--
the glow of fire stood out,
a horror to the people.
That terrible sky-flier
wished to leave
nothing alive.
So, because of the terror of the people, Beowulf had to slay it. This is a classic example of the 'hoard guarding, fire breathing' Western dragon story. You will note in the last line of the first grouping from the story, that it says "...will guard heathen/ gold, though he gains/ nothing from it."
It seems as if this dragon was justified in his anger and terror, for I know many that would be just as upset if someone took their things.
As you can see, the dragons of the Norse people were definately Chaotic Dragons. The Norse were a people who accepted Fate, and fatalistic as they were, they knew that eventually all things come to an end. This is why even though their dragons were more destructive than most, they were not considered evil by them. It is interesting to note that the Norse claimed to see so many dragons and winged serpents that they not only used them in their mythology, but they decorated most of their things with their likenesses. There are also so many towns and cities in Northern Europe named after dragons that it is hard not to ask yourself if they may have been real. Their winged serpents also match those found around the world...if only there was more physical evidence.
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