Dragons
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Zitny Smij
The Zitny Smij is a form of dragon from Lithuanian myth. It is known for being good natured, and its name means “corn dragon.” They bring corn to their favorite people and look like fire streaking across the sky. They are thought to be one of many forms of household dragons. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Lecouteux, Claude. The Tradition of Household Spirits: Ancestral Lore and Practices. United States, Inner Traditions/Bear, 2013. MacKenzie, Shawn. Dragons for Beginners: Ancient Creatures in a Modern World. United States, Llewellyn Worldwide, Limited, 2012.
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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.…
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Tirisuk/Tirichuk
The Tirisuk is a monster from Inuit myth. They are creatures similar to dragons but often combine the features of reptiles and either centipedes or caterpillars. They have large leathery feelers or antennae which they use to grab prey. Sometimes they have four legs, and jaws like snapping turtles that could tear through anything. They typically eat humans and even whole hunting parties. They are sometimes thought to live in a giant hole, or in the Buckland and Noatak rivers. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Francis, Scott. Monster Spotter’s Guide to North America. United States, Adams…
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Tiamat
Tiamat is a primordial goddess from Sumerian, Babylonian, Akkadian, and Mesopotamian mythology. She is a creator goddess who is thought to embody the water of the ocean. She is thought to have combined with Apsu, who embodies freshwater, and birthed eleven monstrous creatures. She became incredibly angry at Enki and Marduk for leading the deities who later killed Apsu. She created and then married the god Kingu to fight Marduk. Marduk eventually split her in half, using half of her body to make the vault of heaven, and using her eyes as the water sources for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Citations: Jordan, Michael. Encyclopedia of Gods: Over 2,500 Deities…
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Rabisu/Rōbēs
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Tatsu/Lung/Ryo/Ryu
The Tatsu is a common term for a dragon in Japanese. They are thought to be descended from a primitive form of a three toed Chinese dragon. They are associated with the sea and rain and live in rivers or the sea. They give proper amounts of rain to those who properly appeased them, and cause droughts and whirlwinds when angered. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon, and DeKirk, Ashley. Dragonlore: From the Archives of the Grey School of Wizardry. United States, Red Wheel Weiser, 2006.
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Quinotaur
The Quinotaur is a creature from French myth. Its name means “bull with five horns.” It is described as part bull, part dragon, and part fish, and possesses intelligence. Supposedly it originated from the Merovingian bloodline and was thought to be the father to King Merovee, having possibly raped his mother when she went to swim in the sea. In some versions, she was already pregnant and the Quinotaur’s DNA fused with the unborn baby, giving it magic powers. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Fanthorpe, Patricia. The Big Book of Mysteries. United States, Dundurn Press, 2010.
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Peluda/La Velue/Shaggy Beast/The Shaggy Beast Of La Ferte-Bernard/Peallaidh/Pehuda
The Peluda is a large dragon thought to have lived near the Huisine River in the village of La Ferte-Bernard, France. This creature was spoken of in Medieval times, and it was thought that it refused a ride on Noah’s ark but still survived the great flood. It was thought to have had four stubby legs, quills covering its back, a scaly tail, shaggy green fur, turtle claws, and the ability to breath fire. It was so large that it flooded nearby farms when it entered the river. One day, it ate a young maiden, whose fiancé sought out a wise woman to find the creature’s weakness. He was told…
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Nabau Puaka
The Nabau Puaka is a variation of the Nabau whose name means ”red dragon.” They’re angry creatures from the sea. It’s thought ancestors rode these creatures to an ancestral lake. The lake turns red when they fume with anger. They fight each other in the lake and cause volcanic eruptions in the heavens. Citations: Sagin, Dominic Dado. A Ring of Truth: A Journey Through Space-Time, Myths, Legends, and Oral Histories – the Adventour of a Headhunter. United States, Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Agency (SBPRA), 2013.
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Mlokowy Smij
The Mlokowy Smij is a form of dragon from Lithuanian myth. They are good-natured and give milk to those they like, often women of high status. Citations: Grimm, Jacob. Teutonic Mythology. United Kingdom, George Bell, 1883. MacKenzie, Shawn. Dragons for Beginners: Ancient Creatures in a Modern World. United States, Llewellyn Worldwide, Limited, 2012.
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Leviathan
The Leviathan is from the Hebrew people and is mentioned in the Bible. She was created by God on the fifth day of creation. In medieval times she was seen as a demon of envy and faith, or an arch-demon. She was sometimes seen as a symbol of chaos or as a fallen Seraphim. Her name means “the crooked serpent” or “whale.” She was three hundred miles long with eyes glowing like small suns. She hunted and ate a whale every day. Her breath was foul enough to kill and she could expel heat from her mouth that would instantly boil the water. She feared a sea worm called Kilbit…
