Aldarion
Archmage
Western and Eastern dragons – mythology, similarities and differences
(repost from my old tumblr blog) Introduction First thing that has to be considered here is that image of dragons evolved through time. Much like Chinese dragons, Western dragons in Antiquity were …
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First thing that has to be considered here is that image of dragons evolved through time. Much like Chinese dragons, Western dragons in Antiquity were seen as benevolent creatures. They were protectors of fertility, crops, and were generally associated with the element of earth, whereas eastern dragons are associated with the elements of air and water. This only changed with the arrival of Christianity, which associated dragons and other pagan imaginery with Devil, and correspondingly associated dragons with the element of fire. This “modern”, Christian dragon archetype is best seen in Tolkien’s dragons, who far from being benevolent spirits of nature, are devils embodied, evil supernatural entities given physical form.
