There will forever be a question as to whether dragons are real or just a figment of the imagination of eons of great storytellers. The fact remains, however, that dragon history has been compiled through hundreds and hundreds of years of both written and oral accounts of encounters with great winged serpents, fierce fire-breathing horned beasts, and other legendary creatures. Most dragon historians seem to agree that the earliest accounts come from the ancient land of Mesopotamia, now Iran and Iraq. Manuscripts describe these serpent-like creatures as “monsters”, possessing both divine qualities and fierce tempers. Versions of dragon history also come from Greek civilization. Many know the story of Jason and the Argonauts, who together defeated the “dragon of a thousand coils” that guarded the golden fleece. Greek heroes Hercules and Perseus also slew giant dragon-like beasts, according to history. The beast killed by St. George, who most likely lived in 4th century Cappadocia , is probably one of the most famous in dragon history. Though tales vary, most versions note that a great scaled dragon lived in a lake or cave in a town in what is now modern-day Libya. The beast lived rather happily on two sheep a day but when the animals became scarce, the townspeople began feeding their maidens to the hungry dragon. When George heard that the next maiden to be eaten was the princess, he rode into town and slew the dragon with a single blow. It’s said, in many accounts, that he later delivered an inspired sermon to the people of the town and converted them to Christianity. This story sparked an amazing amount of similar stories in later centuries about dragons and their downfall during the spread of the Christian faith and dragon folklore advanced the cause of Christian followers. In the 11th Century, it is said that St. Patrick ordered all snakes and dragons to leave Ireland. During the same century, a dragon is said to have killed more than 3000 people in France. Two similar beasts are said to have fought near Canterbury, England in the mid 1400s and a similar creature was slain on Vatican Hill in 1669. Even in the modern-day Western world, dragons are still spotted, mostly in the form of sea serpents like the legendary Loch Ness Monster. Similarly, throughout the centuries on the other side of the world, it was long believed that dragons existed. But in China and surrounding countries, the inhabitants seemed to find a way to live peacefully with the creatures. This remains the main difference between Eastern and Western dragon history. Missing are the stories of war and fighting between humans and dragons. They are replaced by tales of reverence and worship. Early dragons of the East are often associated with water and were considered to be wise and all-knowing. The Chinese prayed to the creatures for good luck, good weather, and good advice. But whether the true dragon-lover adheres to Western or Eastern philosophies of dragon history, most agree that the important thing is to just believe…believe in the creature that has been the subject of fantastic tales throughout the centuries and will no doubt continue to fascinate both the young and old in years to come. What an amazing creature! | 
