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Symbolism > dragon
dragon
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The Dragon is one of the most common mythical beasts in heraldry. It is depicted as a huge fire-breathing reptile with the claws of an eagle, the tail of a serpent, and wings like a bat. It is covered in scales and has a barbed tongue.
Some form of dragon has been prominent in the mythology of many different cultures around the world and as such, it has been depicted in various ways. In modern heraldry, great differences can be found in the way their ears are drawn, and in almost all modern representations the tail is barbed, though the dragons of the Tudor period in England invariably had smooth tails. A Wyvern differs from a dragon in that it has no legs. If blazoned as a Chinese dragon, then no wings are shown. Dragons were perceived as powerful, protective, and fearsome, and they were valued for their warlike qualities. They were often protectors of a treasure, and from this they can be symbolic of a most valiant defender. They were also sometimes terrorizers of the people, symbols of satanic evil. One of the highest achievements of a hero in medieval legend was the slaying of a dragon, as in the story of St. George, where the victory over the dragon, was a symbolic victory of Christianity. Thus the dragon as a heraldic charge may signify the faith, strength and selfless courage needed to battle the overwhelmingly powerful, and evil dragon. |
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