The word "dragon" originates from the Greeks, who called them "drakon." This word is derived from the European root "darc," which means "to see clearly" since dragons have an amazing eyesite. Dragons were also associated with springs. In many Indo-European and Semitic languages the word "spring" is also the word for "eye." In chinese mythology, dragons are the composite if nine animals- A camel's head, a deer's horns, a rabbit's eyes, a cow's ears, a snake's neck, a frog's belly, a carp's scales, a hakw's claws, and a tiger's paws. Also, in complete contrast to Western mythology, Dragons are rarely depicted as malevolent. They may be fearsome and very powerful, but are also very wise, and bring fortune and good luck.
  Along with hoards, dragons are known for their capture of princesses. It didn't begin that way, however. At one point some evil king decided he wanted something from a dragon. The dragon, desiring something in return, told him to bring his daughter, the princess. The king brought her, and she was promptly devoured by the dragon. It is assumed that the flavor of feminine royalty is a delicacy to dragons, as from then on, all dragons wanted princesses. Some were sacrificed to protect cities, some for water, other were kidnapped by the dragons, but all were either rescued or eaten.
  Some dragons were not really dragons at all, but humans, cursed to a life of scaly sorrow. These were the most cunning and evil dragons, however, for they not only had the speed and power of the dragon, but the mind of a human. Some were finally killed by great armies - not of one country, but all countries uniting to defeat it. Others simply vanished, leaving no sign of where they went. A few learned magical spells that enabled them to return to their human form, and one was able to conquer the world.
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