Myths about Dragons. From the Serpent-Temptress and the Lernaean Hydra to the Scandinavian Fafnir and the Sea Leviathan

An exciting illustrated exploration of the origin and role of dragons in world culture: from Antiquity to the works of Tolkien and George Martin. Previously published under the title “The Book of Dragons.”The most famous mythological monsters — dragons —... have always evoked fear and admiration. Before you is a fundamental study that spans millennia of human history and numerous countries and cultures. The origins of dragons from the deserts of Africa; their battles with elephants in the jungles of South Asia; their fear of lightning; the sea monster Leviathan; the seven-headed red dragon from the “Apocalypse”; the Loch Ness Monster; the dragon in “Beowulf,” which became the prototype for Smaug in Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”; dragons in the prophecies of the wizard Merlin; the feathered serpent of ancient Mesoamerica.From the gloomy halls of the Lonely Mountain and the blue skies of Westeros to the underground vaults of the magical bank “Gringotts” — everywhere we expect the emergence of gigantic fire-breathing lizards with massive bat-like wings guarding treasures hidden deep underground, as well as sowing chaos and bringing destruction by spewing fire from their mouths. But true dragons are full of surprises, just like this book.