Dragons
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Peluda/La Velue/Peallaidh/Pehuda
Peluda was a giant dragon from medieval French myth. It’s believed it refused to board Noah’s Ark but survived the flood anyway. After this, it was thought to live in the Huisne River near the village of La Ferte-Bernard. It’s believed that when it entered the river, the water level would rise and flood nearby farms. It had four stubby legs ending in turtle-like claws, and a scaly tail. It had shaggy green hair over its body, and its back was covered in sharp quills. It developed a taste for young maidens and was able to breathe fire. A man went to a wise woman after his fiancée was killed…
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Lou Carcolh
The Lou Carcolh is a giant monster from French myth. It’s thought to live in a cave beneath the town of Hastingue, France. It is described as a combination of snail and serpent, with a large shell on its back, and long, hairy tentacles. These tentacles could stretch out beyond the horizon, and it uses these to snatch people up and pull them into its mouth. It is thought to leave a trail of slime, and none would dare to follow it. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016.
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Wyrm/Ormr/Verm/Worm
The Wyrm is a form of dragon originating in Norse myth. They’re described as serpentine creatures and deemed dragons when large enough. The earliest known depiction of this creature is a wood panel from the year 1100. This image shows a Wyrm with an open mouth filled with teeth, eating a person. It had almond-shaped eyes, a curved nose on a long snout, a recurved horn, and ears that were laid back. Its long neck was in two coils, and it appeared it may have had a rider on its back at some point. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland,…
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Lambton Worm
The Lambton Worm is a historical dragon from the legends of Durham, England. It was caught by a young boy named Lambton while fishing, but he threw it down a well when he thought it was just an ugly eel. It grew large in the well and after some years climbed out and killed livestock, and people. It became so big that it could wrap itself around a particular hill, known as Worm Hill, three times. After returning from a crusade Lambton, now grown, chose to slay the dragon. He went to the local witch to get magical assistance and she gave him a charm, but he agreed that he…
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Fafnir/Frænir
Fafnir is a mythological figure from Norse mythology. He was a Dwarf or Jotunn and one of the sons of Hreidmar the magician. He desired his father’s magic ring Advarinaut, which could magically produce treasure. Eventually, he became so corrupted by his desire that he killed his father for the ring. He gained a great pile of treasure and turned into a dragon to protect it, though the corruption of his greed forced him to remain in that form. Fafnirs brother Regin also desired the ring but waited too long to act on his greed. To get the ring from his brother, he sent his foster son, the hero Sigurd,…
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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.
