Dragon

A dragon is a mythical creature found in the folklore of cultures throughout the world. It is roughly serpentine in form, and often possesses features drawn from different animals, such as wings and claws. In nearly all cultures, it is conceived of as a powerful and awe-inspiring creature.
Dragon-like creatures appear in ancient Mesopotamian art, where they could be hostile or benevolent. In East Asia, dragons were usually regarded as positive beings; Chinese dragons were thought to govern the rain, the sea, and other forms of water, and from the Han dynasty onwards they were emblems of imperial power. Ancient Greek drakontes were large serpents endowed with supernatural qualities; in myth they were defeated by heroes or gods, whereas in cult they were gentle figures associated with healing and wealth. In the Western tradition, dragons have been depicted as fire-breathing embodiments of evil, associated with death. In the modern world, dragons have featured in works by writers such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, and George R. R. Martin.

Etymology

The word dragon entered the English language in the early 13th century from Old French dragon, which, in turn, comes from Latin draco (genitive draconis), meaning "huge serpent, dragon", from Ancient Greek: δράκων, drákōn (genitive δράκοντος, drákontos) "serpent". The Greek and Latin term referred to any great serpent, not necessarily mythological. The Greek word δράκων is most likely derived from the Greek verb δέρκομαι (dérkomai) meaning "I see", the aorist form of which is ἔδρακον (édrakon). This is thought to have referred to something with a "deadly glance", or unusually bright or "sharp" eyes, or because a snake's eyes appear to be always open; each eye actually sees through a big transparent scale in its eyelids, which are permanently shut. The Greek word probably derives from an Indo-European base *derḱ- meaning "to see"; the Sanskrit root दृश् (dr̥ś-) also means "to see".

Theorised origins…