Dragons across history and cultures: Sightings, symbols, and stories

Dragons have long captured our human imagination, appearing in mythologies and stories across cultures and centuries. From ancient Sumerian tablets to modern fantasy novels, they have evolved from mythological beasts to symbols of wisdom, power, and mystery. Whether depicted as fire-breathing monsters or benevolent sky gods, dragons are among humanity’s most enduring mythical creatures. Historical and modern eyewitness accounts of dragon sightings further fuel their mystique.

Historical Sightings and Legendary Accounts

Throughout history, various eyewitness accounts claim sightings of dragons. After his campaigns in India, Alexander the Great reportedly brought back tales of a large dragon inhabiting a cave. Marco Polo also described encounters with massive serpents in the province of Karajan, whose fearsome presence led locals to believe they could swallow a man whole. The Wawel Dragon of Poland is another famous tale, dating back to the 12th century, where a dragon was said to terrorize Kraków until a hero’s bravery ended its reign. In China, dragons were more than just myths—numerous sightings were recorded, including an account from 1934 when villagers in Liaoning province claimed to see a dragon fall from the sky, later discovering scales and bones believed to belong to it. While later analysis suggested these remains were from other animals, the stories linger. Even further back, Ming dynasty records in 1517 describe dragons over Nanjing, where they supposedly created waterspouts and lifted boats.

Dragons in Ancient Civilizations and Religious Texts

The cultural roots of dragons are deeply embedded in ancient civilizations. The Sumerians identified two types of dragons: the “serpent dragon,” similar to our modern image, and the “lion dragon,” a blend of lions and birds. Near Eastern myths often depicted dragons as supernatural beings, neither fully good nor evil. The “dragon fight” first appeared in Eastern depictions around the third millennium BCE, typically featuring gods as dragon slayers. In the Anzu myth, the god Ninurta defeated the “bird demon” Anzu and protected other deities from threats like the underworld dragon Kur. This narrative later inspired the Babylonian god Marduk, who battled serpent dragons in his conflict with Tiamat, influencing religious traditions with Old Testament ties. Greek mythology also contributed to dragon lore, with tales like Perseus rescuing Andromeda from the sea dragon Ketos. The Greeks also gave us the term “dragon,” derived from the Greek “drácōn,” meaning rigid gazer.

Christian Symbolism: Archangel Michael, St. George, and the Dragon as Evil

Christian tradition cast dragons as symbols of evil. In the Book of Revelation, dragons are synonymous with Satan, and in Christian iconography, the dragon battle represents the ultimate fight between good and evil. Archangel Michael is the quintessential dragon slayer in Christian texts, symbolizing divine power and purity as he wages a cosmic battle against the dragon, an embodiment of Satan himself. This confrontation, which serves as a symbol of the final triumph of good over evil, became a central motif in Christian art, representing a foundational aspect of the faith’s battle against sin and darkness.

St. George, perhaps the most famous dragon-slaying figure in Christianity, is another powerful symbol of this tradition. According to legend, George, a Roman soldier and Christian martyr, saved a town from a dragon that demanded sacrificial offerings. When the townspeople offered him a princess as part of this bargain, George intervened, slaying the dragon and saving the town. Over time, this tale became emblematic of the Christian faith’s power to defeat evil through courage, faith, and righteousness. Depictions of St. George slaying the dragon—symbolizing Christianity’s victory over paganism, sin, and Satan—became common in medieval art and literature and continue to inspire religious imagery today.

In both Archangel Michael and St. George’s tales, dragons are the ultimate adversaries, representing the forces of chaos and sin. The Christian reinterpretation of dragons drew heavily on existing myths but framed them within a clear moral paradigm, where the dragon’s defeat underscored the supremacy of faith and virtue over darkness and evil.

Dragons in China

In stark contrast, dragons in Chinese culture are celebrated as benevolent, powerful beings. They hold a central role in Chinese mythology and tradition, seen as sacred creatures associated with water, rain, and fertility. Unlike Western dragons, often portrayed as destructive or malevolent, Chinese dragons are protectors and intermediaries between Heaven and Earth. They are believed to control the weather, bringing rain to nourish crops and maintaining balance between people and nature. Dragons in China symbolize luck, wealth, power, and wisdom, associated with positive qualities such as kindness and intelligence. This reverence extends into Chinese festivals and celebrations; during the Chinese New Year, dragon parades and dances are performed to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits, while the Dragon Boat Festival honors the poet Qu Yuan with dragon-themed boat races, paying homage to dragons as symbols of protection and strength. Chinese dragons have long snake-like bodies with scales, four legs, and a beard-like whiskers on their face, plus horns on their head and long hair down their back. Unlike dragons in the West, they don't have wings.

Throughout Chinese history, dragons were also a symbol of imperial authority. Only the emperor was allowed to wear garments depicting a five-clawed dragon, while nobles could wear four-clawed dragons. This reverence for dragons is woven into daily life in China; they appear in art, architecture, and even Feng Shui, where dragons are believed to promote prosperity and harmony. Businesses frequently use dragon symbols for good fortune, while temples have altars dedicated to dragons where worshippers seek blessings and protection. To this day, many Chinese people view themselves as descendants of dragons.

More than myth

The divide between Western and Eastern dragon traditions reflects more than just cultural differences; it highlights humanity’s deep and complex relationship with power and the unknown. In Western lore, where dragons are often enemies to be slain, we see the human drive to conquer and control, asserting dominance over both nature and fear. Figures like St. George in Christian stories embody our need to view the world in stark terms of good versus evil, order versus chaos.

In contrast, Chinese tradition regards dragons as revered ancestors and symbols of fortune, offering a very different view of power. Here, dragon energy isn’t something to be conquered but something to be understood and channeled. While modern science may question the physical reality of dragons, their psychological and cultural presence remains undeniable. They reflect our own nature—both terrible and beautiful, destructive and nurturing—something to fear and embrace all at once.