The Wonder World of Dragons

Tiamat - the Babylonian story of creation, Enuma Elish, told of this serpent-like creature, the Mother of the gods. Her scales were tough, and could not be broken by weapons. She was slain by the man, Marduk.

Hydra - The many headed dragon of Greek Mythology. When one head was cut off, two more grew from the spurting blood. This marvelous dragon was killed by Hercules.

The Midgard Serpent - This serpent was one of Loki's children, and was thrown by Odin off of the Sacred Ash, Yggdrasil, where he wrapped himself around the world. This dragon-snake had many run-ins with the mighty Thor, and the two of them will face off during the final battle, or the Ragnarok.

Cetus - The Sea Serpent of Greek Mythology to whom Andromeda was sacrificed. Perseus saved her on the back of Pegasus, and they were married.

Grendel - This horrible monster was killed by Beowulf. Grendel's mother then tried to avenge her son, but was also slain.

Imperial Dragon - Chinese dragon with five claws curling from its feet. It had117 scales, 81 infused with yang, the good, and 36 infused with yin, the evil. This was the dragon of the Chinese emperors. There are many types of Chinese Dragons. Some include the Celestial, the Spiritual, The Dragon of Hidden Treasures, the Winged, the Horned, the Coiling, and the Yellow.

Tatsu - Japanese Dragon with three claws, similar to the Chinese lung

Nagas - Indian serpent-like creatures with the torso and head of humans, and the body and tail of a snake. There are different types of nagas, such as the Divine, the Heavenly, and others.

Quetzalcoatl - this Mexican winged dragon is known as an Amphiptere. He had the wings of a quetzal bird, and the tail of a serpent.

Mo-o - this Polynesian dragon's name means "great sea creature." The dragon was thought to steal, and move oysters to different lands.

The Loch Ness Monster - This creature has been seen by peoples of Scotland, and lives in the great Loch Ness.

The Wyvern (Wivern or Wyver) - A heraldic dragon of Wales, with the fore part of a winged dragon, and the hind end of a serpent or lizard. Has variations of body parts. Sometimes having two wings and two legs, other times having four legs. Other spellings include the Old English form, wyvre, and the Old French, wivre.

Amphisbaena - this venomous serpent-like creature had two heads. One where it should be, and one for its tail. It could reportedly stick one head inside the mouth of the other, and roll to where it wanted to go. It was said to be a very evil creature. Some pictures of this creature depict it as having feet, others just as a snake.

Chimera - the beast of Greek Mythology had three heads. A Lion's head was the main, then a goat's head sprouted from its back, and its tail had a serpent's head. It breathed fire, and the hero Belleraphon rode Pegasus and killed it with a lump of lead on a spear which he threw into the Chimera's stomach.

Griffin - This noblest of fantastic creatures is a combination of the two noblest creatures of their elements, the lion, of land, and the eagle, of air. It is an emblem of knowledge and valor, and is a guardian of kings. This majestic beast is still well known in the world for its protection and majesty.

Manticore - this lion-like beast has a man's face and ears, three rows of sharp teeth, a scorpion's tail, and a musical voice.

The Lambton Worm - this serpent was caught by a man named Lambton while fishing. He was disgusted by its appearance, needle-like teeth, slimy, and evil, and he threw it into a nearby well. Unknown to him, it grew and thrived until it began to feed of the villagers. It could not be cut, for the pieces merely rejoined and regenerated. Lambton came back and discovered what had occurred, and under the advisement of a wise man, donned a suit of armor covered in spikes and chopped the Worm to pieces in the river where the pieces of the dead worm drifted away.

The Guivre - a serpent dragon who's breath would generate plagues and disease. It was ashamed of nudity, so would flee in the presence of a nude person.

The Gargouille - a dragon which rose from the waters of the Seine, the river in France. It spouted a tremendous blast of water from its mouth which flooded the countryside. It was called Gargouille or "gargler". The sign of the cross subdued it, and the people of France erected statues of the creature on the buildings to instill fear. The statues are known as gargoyles.