Dragons,  Medieval Heraldry,  W

Wyvern/Wivern

The Wyvern is a species of dragon from medieval heraldry throughout Europe. Its name is thought to mean “life viper” and they were originally seen as protectors of the land and bringers of life. After larger amounts of christianization, they were instead seen as giant predatory creatures associated with envy, pestilence, and war. They have large serpentine bodies, standing on two avian legs with eagle-like talons, long tails ending in a sharp barb, and heads resembling the typical European Dragon with large horns. In heraldry, the Wyvern are typically depicted as green with red undersides and wings.

Citations:

Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.

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