Many ancient cultures have their own dragon myths, some that are traced back as far as 4000 BC, but the ancient Chinese believed that dragon statues represented a creature that symbolized strength and good fortune. Other cultures saw dragons as rather wicked and dangerous creatures intent on destruction, but the ancient Chinese saw dragons as symbols of creation, instead. They were revered as protectors of the sacred, able to fly on massive wings.

Where did the dragon stories come from, and how did every ancient culture come up with such a similar representation of the dragon, if they didn’t exist? Unlike today, when an image can be placed on TV and the Internet and half the world can see the same thing, communication was difficult among countries in ancient times. How could they all have claimed such similar stories? The stories might have been used to explain the discovery of dinosaur bones. These would have looked similar no matter where they were found, and can explain the similarity of the earliest dinosaur statues and other artwork depicting dinosaurs.

Dragons, particularly the sea dwelling variety, were fear and said to live at the edges of the sea, when the world was believed to be flat. And not only did adventurous sailors risk sailing off the edge, they risked being eaten by the dragons who lived on the fringes of the world. Ancient maps often said “Here be dragons” at the edges for that reason. These days, the only place you’re likely to encounter a sea monster dragon is in the many different types of dragon statues produced for lawn and garden, or as collectibles suitable for display.

Dragons appeared in Greek mythology, and were a common theme in fairy tales and myths. Who hasn’t heard the story of the young Prince set to slay the fire-breathing dragon to either discover a vast treasure or rescue the would-be-princess? Many cultures feared dragons, and their stories depicted dragons as creatures to be vanquished. But like ancient China, Rome believed dragons were wise and mysterious. Their dragon statues represented knowledge, strength and heroism, though a more sinister looking dragon often represented a threat.

Though dragons were depicted similarly throughout the world, Chinese dragon statues and the dragons of medieval times had marked differences. Chinese dragons often had very long bodies and squared heads that house their massive jaws. Medieval dragons were depicted as less lithe than Chinese dragons. They often had much wider bodies, more resembling some dinosaurs than the Chinese version, and were chunkier in general, with heads that more closely resembled serpents.

Collecting dragon statues today is a highly individual pursuit. Online auctions offer thousands of choices, so you can find something in your choice of materials and styles. Those looking for actual antique statues will have to ask many questions of the seller, as the word vintage is often used to describe the look of the statue, the type of dragon and reproduction, rather than its age or origin.

Originally posted 2008-10-19 14:00:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Ceramic Piggy Banks Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Ceramics, Porcelain Ceramic piggy banks have an interesting history. Why pigs, exactly, and not bank shapes or a tiny safe? Apparently, we use pigs because of language, and a simple mistake. The word “pygg” was an old English word for an orange clay commonly used......
• Antique Chinese Parrot Antiques -> Asian -> Chinese If you are interested in a unique Asian collectible that is sure to get plenty of discussions going, antique Chinese parrots are an excellent choice. These delightful decorative collectibles come in many different shapes and styles and many are vibrantly colored and well designed. Most......
• Chinese Antique Jade Antiques -> Asian -> Chinese Chinese antique jade isn't just beautiful in its own right, but carries a deep cultural significance for the Chinese people. Historically, it was used for jewelry, in religious ceremonies, culturally, monetarily, and was believed to hold great mystical and healing powers. Today, it's still an......
• Antique Books Antiques -> Books and Manuscripts -> American If you are interested in finding a collectible that has a true story to tell, antique books are the ideal choice. These offer the ability to collect something that has value, not only in the actual worth of the item, but in the......
• Antique School Table Antiques -> Furniture -> Tables, Stands If you're looking for antique furniture like an antique school table or desk, one great place to find these items is estate auctions.  While you can find antique furniture in online auctions like eBay, you need to be very savvy about the purchases you......

• Le Baiser du Dragon by Cartier Today's posting is a joint effort by Ida (Chaya), Elena (Helg), and me. Thanks to both perfumistas for writing! I asked them to speak to the perfume version of this, as I have not tried it. >>>>>>>>> Le Baiser Du Dragon By Cartier , or Kiss of the Dragon, or......
• An Assembly Such As This by Pamela Aidan- Guest Review What I love best is seeing multiple perspectives on books that I'm reading, have read, or intend to read. When Sasha sent me this guest review, I was pleasantly surprised. Without knowing it, we were reading the same book trilogy within days of each other! Check out my review of......
• Macau: The Other Gambling World On the island of Coloane, Restaurante Fernando harkens to a time when the Portuguese controlled this picturesque area of southern China. The open-air eatery looks out on the black sands of Hác-Sá beach, where cool breezes help stem the area's natural humidity. The aroma of barbecued beef, roasted suckling pigs......
• That About Covers It! Today's guest blogger is debut author, Sandy Lender, of the Choices Trilogy. Please, extend a warm welcome to her for joining us! I'm pretty doggone lucky. Not only did I get a publisher to give me a contract for my first novel CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS, that publisher asked......
• Gold Play: Great Time To Invest As I've mentioned before I think the US is going to enter a period of inflation and recession brought on by the trade & budget deficit and precipitated by the devaluing dollar. Both Oil and Gold have been in a slow and quiet bull market for the past few years.......

• Statues Chinese Asian Antiques
• Kwan-yin Statues Chinese Asian Antiques
• Buddha Statues Chinese Asian Antiques
• Gargoyles Dragons Statues Yard Art Garden D cor Yard, Garden Outdoor Living
• Statues Dragons Fantasy, Mythical Magic Collectibles