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

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