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10 FAMOUS DRAGONS FROM MYTH & FICTION

Creatures, Dragons, Mythology, Symbolism / mayarijewelry

10 Famous Dragons From Myth & Fiction

I’ve always been fascinated by dragons — not just the fierce, storybook kind, but the ones carved into ancient stones and myths around the world. They’ve always felt alive somehow… carrying fire, strength, and a bit of mystery wherever they appear.

Symbolism: Beyond cultural meanings, dragons can also symbolize personal traits. They are often associated with strength, resilience, and transformation. In many myths, dragons guard treasure—not just physical riches, but metaphorical ones like wisdom or self-discovery. Sometimes, the obstacles we fear the most hide the very things we need to grow.

Dragons Across Cultures: Duality in Symbolism

In Western mythology, dragons are often portrayed as terrifying beasts — hoarders of treasure, destroyers of kingdoms, and obstacles for heroes to overcome. These fire-breathing creatures, like Smaug from The Hobbit, symbolize greed, chaos, and untamed power. They reflect a worldview where dragons must be conquered — the embodiment of danger and the unknown.

In contrast, Eastern dragon symbolism tells a very different story. In Chinese and other Asian cultures, dragons are revered as wise, benevolent beings — protectors that bring rain, fertility, and good fortune. During Lunar New Year, dragon dances celebrate prosperity and drive away negativity, keeping this ancient myth alive in movement and color.

This contrast between Eastern and Western dragons reveals much about human nature. In one world, dragons represent fear and conflict; in another, wisdom and creation. Across centuries, the dragon remains one of humanity’s most powerful mythical creatures — a timeless mirror of our collective imagination.

Famous Dragons from Myth and Fiction

Here’s a list of some of the most legendary dragons, each with their own captivating stories and extraordinary traits. These mythical beings have ignited our imaginations and shaped countless tales for generations:

1. Smaug (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien)

• Traits: Greedy, cunning, and immensely powerful.

• Why Famous: Smaug is one of the most famous Western dragons in literature, guarding a mountain of gold and serving as a reminder of the corrupting influence of greed.

2. Shenlong (Chinese Mythology)

• Traits: Wise, benevolent, and associated with weather.

• Why Famous: Shenlong is a celestial dragon that controls rain and wind, revered in Chinese culture as a bringer of prosperity and balance.

3. Drogon (Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin)

• Traits: Fierce, loyal, and destructive.

• Why Famous: Drogon is Daenerys Targaryen’s most iconic dragon, a symbol of her power and determination to reclaim her throne.

4. Fafnir (Norse Mythology)

• Traits: Greedy, cursed, and tragic.

• Why Famous: Once a dwarf, Fafnir transformed into a dragon due to his greed, guarding a cursed treasure that ultimately leads to his demise.

5. Haku (Spirited Away)

• Traits: Gentle, protective, and mysterious.

• Why Famous: Haku is a river spirit who takes on a dragon form, representing purity, loyalty, and the connection between humanity and nature.

6. Quetzalcoatl (Aztec Mythology)

• Traits: Feathered, divine, and a creator figure.

• Why Famous: A feathered serpent-dragon, Quetzalcoatl is a god of creation, wind, and learning, symbolizing wisdom and the union of opposites.

7. Tiamat (Mesopotamian Mythology / Dungeons & Dragons)

• Traits: Chaotic, destructive, and multi-headed.

• Why Famous: Tiamat is the embodiment of chaos and creation in Babylonian mythology. In Dungeons & Dragons, she’s a five-headed goddess of evil dragons.

8. Mushu (Mulan)

• Traits: Comical, determined, and small but mighty.

• Why Famous: While Mushu is not your typical imposing dragon, his loyalty and humor make him a fan-favorite as he helps Mulan find her strength.

9. The Dragon of the Nibelungs

• Traits: Fierce, treasure-hoarding, and tied to destiny.

• Why Famous: This unnamed dragon from the German epic Nibelungenlied guards an immense treasure hoard, which Siegfried slays it to claim. Bathing in the dragon’s blood grants Siegfried invulnerability—except for a single vulnerable spot, leading to his eventual downfall. The dragon represents greed, power, and the tragic costs of ambition.

This legendary dragon plays a pivotal role in shaping the fate of one of Europe’s most famous heroic sagas.

10. The Dragon of Beowulf

• Traits: Vengeful, fire-breathing, and a symbol of inevitable mortality.

• Why Famous: The dragon in the Old English epic Beowulf is the final adversary faced by the hero. It awakens in fury when a piece of its treasure hoard is stolen. Beowulf slays the dragon but is mortally wounded in the battle, symbolizing the ultimate cost of heroism and the inevitability of death.

Why Dragons Continue to Captivate Us

Dragons endure in our imaginations because they tap into something primal. They are the embodiment of nature’s power—both awe-inspiring and terrifying. In a way, dragons remind us of our place in the world, our struggles, and our potential. They invite us to ask big questions: What do we fear? What do we value? How can we transform?

As I explore the stories and legends surrounding dragons, I can’t help but feel connected to something greater. Whether I’m reading about St. George’s triumph over the dragon or marveling at a Chinese dragon parade, I’m reminded of the universality of these creatures. They may come in different forms and carry different meanings, but they are, at their core, reflections of ourselves.

Legendary Snakes & Snake – like creatures

The snake is the universal and most complex of all the symbols embodied in animals, as well as the most common and probably the most ancient of them.

The snake and dragon are often interchangeable, and in the countries of the Far East, no distinction is made between them at all. The symbolism of the snake is multifaceted. It can personify both masculine and feminine energy, life and death, destruction and resurrection.

Snakes represent light and darkness, good and evil, wisdom and blind passion, cure and poison, guardian and destroyer, spiritual and physical rebirth. In almost all Gnostic schools, the serpent was understood either as a symbol of the Upper world, or as a chaotic principle.

This duality of symbolism, forcing people to balance between fear and worship, contributed to the fact that the snake appears sometimes as the progenitor other times as an enemy, or in some cases simultaneously a symbol of good and evil.

Here are some examples of famous snakes, snake-like creatures and symbols:

King Snake ring, Mayari jewelry

The cunning serpent of the Garden of Eden

In the story of Genesis, the snake is portrayed as a trickster that tempts Eve into stealing from the forbidden fruit tree, telling her that “when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” And as we know it didn’t end so well…

Snakes as a Symbol of Medicine

The Rod of Asclepius (aka The Staff of Asclepius) is a snake-entwined rod, said to be wielded by Asclepius, the Greek god associated with healing and medicine.

*do not confuse it with the famous staff of the god Hermes (or Mercury), the caduceus.

Why the snake is often used as a symbol of healing? This is partly due to the ancient belief that the snake sheds its skin to regain youth and guards the secret of eternal life.

Medusa (the most famous of the Gorgons)

In Greek mythology, the fearsome Medusa had living venomous snakes on her head instead of hair and turned anyone who looked at her to stone.

Dangerous and powerful Medusa is often seen as a protective symbol due to her ability to destroy her enemies.

Lernaean Hydra

The Lernaean Hydra was a snakelike water monster with many heads. For every head chopped off, the Hydra would regrow two serpent heads. Was slayed by Heracles (aka Hercules) as part of his Twelve Labors.

Jormungand

In Norse mythology Jormungand, is a powerful sea serpent and the middle child of the god Loki. The serpent grew in the sea until his body encircled all of Midgard, and he was able to grasp his own tail in his mouth. When it releases its tail, Ragnarök (the end of the world) will begin.

Kundalini

An example of a positive symbolism of a snake is the concept of kundalini, which in tantric tradition is represented by thr serpent.

Kundalini energy is called “serpentine power”, it is a symbol of inner strength, psychic energy, it represents our infinite potential of being. This energy lies dormant at the base of the spine, until it is awakened. It is sometimes depicted as a coiled snake with heads at both ends.

Ouroboros

Ouroboros is a serpent represented with its tail in its mouth, continually devouring itself and being reborn from itself. The oldest-known ouroboros appeared in ancient Egypt ”it refers to the mystery of cyclical time, which flows back into itself”.

Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl, or “Feathered Serpent” (mix of bird and rattlesnake), was an ancient Mesoamerican deity. The god of wind and rain, as well as learning, agriculture and science, also associated with the morning star, Quetzalcóatl was the creator of the world and humanity. Also, according to the legend he discovered and introduced corn to the Aztecs.

Snakes in ancient Egyptian culture

The Uraeus is a symbol for the goddess Wadjet. She is a very ancient deity of lower Egypt, the serpent goddess, a mother-figure to kings. The most common Egyptian snake symbol was the Uraeus (the hooded cobra, usually depicted raised up and ready to strike). It appeared on the Pharaoh’s crown and became his sign of sovereignty. So the raised cobra meant protection against disorder and it was also a symbol of divine authority.

Nāgas

The Nagas is a race of large serpentine creatures that can often be found in the mythologies of Hinduism and Buddhism. They are described as powerful, splendid, wonderful and proud semi divine creatures. Nagas are potentially dangerous but often beneficial to humans.

Perhaps the most famous naga in the Hindu tradition is Shesha, who is often portrayed along with Vishnu. Their domain is in the enchanted underworld called Naga-loka filled with gems, gold and other treasures.

10 FAMOUS DRAGONS FROM MYTH & FICTION

MAYARI jewelry

MAYARI jewelry

10 Famous Dragons From Myth & Fiction

Dragons Across Cultures: Duality in Symbolism

1. Smaug (The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien)

• Traits: Greedy, cunning, and immensely powerful.

2. Shenlong (Chinese Mythology)

3. Drogon (Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin)

4. Fafnir (Norse Mythology)

5. Haku (Spirited Away)

6. Quetzalcoatl (Aztec Mythology)

7. Tiamat (Mesopotamian Mythology / Dungeons & Dragons)

8. Mushu (Mulan)

9. The Dragon of the Nibelungs

10. The Dragon of Beowulf

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10 Legendary Snakes & Snake-like creatures

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MAYARI jewelry

Legendary Snakes & Snake – like creatures

The snake is the universal and most complex of all the symbols embodied in animals, as well as the most common and probably the most ancient of them.

The cunning serpent of the Garden of Eden

Snakes as a Symbol of Medicine

Medusa (the most famous of the Gorgons)

Lernaean Hydra

Jormungand

Kundalini

Ouroboros

Quetzalcoatl

Snakes in ancient Egyptian culture

Nāgas

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