This is my first post to this community and I am writing in response to the prompt from @JonicaBradley to write about Monsters, Myths, and Legends.
Jonica asks the question, why are Monsters, Myths and Legends so popular?
In my view many myths and legends have an element of plausibility about them and could be based on true events, that have been passed down from generation to generation and adapted over time.
The Chinese Dragon
Take for example the legend of fire breathing Dragons that once roamed the earth. Dragons are a big thing in Chinese culture and they believe that a mighty, powerful and magical Dragon asssisted Pan Gu in the creation of the universe.
Pan Gu was believed to be the first living creature who burst forth from an egg which contained the entire cosmos.
Legend has it that when he broke free he released the entire universe.
Pan Gu is an important figure and regarded as a deity among Chinese Daoists.
The emperors who ruled Ancient China were said to be human incarnations of Dragons. They were also believed to have magical powers and great strength.
The Dragon in China symbolizes good luck, power and strength. To see paintings or ornaments of Dragons is a very common sight in China.
Could these legends be based on the people in ancient China seeing dragons for real, long ago?
The Dragon legends are deeply embedded into chinese culture, so much so that I think this is possible.
Maybe the stories have changed over time, but possibly they could be based on true events.
The Dragon of the Bible
The book of Job in the bible, which is believed to be one of the oldest, talks about a creature called 'Leviathan.'
Chapter 41 of the book of Job gives a description of Leviathan, which sounds very much like a Dragon to me.
The following quotes are from the book of Job in the KJV bible.
Job 41:10 - None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
Job 41:10 - His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.
Job 41:20-21 - Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
It's a very accurate description of what we would think of as a Dragon today.
Could Dragons have existed long ago?
This makes me think that maybe they really did!
Greek mythology
Dragons play an important part in Greek mythology too.
Typhon is the most fearsome dragon like creature in described in Greek mythology, he is described as having the torso of a man, but being covered in wings.
His eyes are described as glowing red and they terrified everyone who saw them. He was believed also to have breathed fire from his fearsome jaws.
In every culture
Dragons legends and myths seem to exist in every culture around the world, the stories about them vary somewhat but are broadly similar.
Could it be that these legends are based on real events from history, but the stories have changed over the years as were retold from one generation to the next.
Dragons certianly capture the imagination as magical creatures who breathed fire. Though for these myths to exist all over the world makes me wonder if there really was a time that Dragons roamed the earth!
I think the plausiblty of being true and the way that these stories capture the imagination is a reason why these Dragon legends will always be popular.
Article is my own
Pictures courtesy of pixabay
Thanks, it is a nice article. I was not aware that @JonicaBradley had prompted people to write about Myths, Monsters & Legends. I wrote a similar article to yours, check it out, it contains MOAR dragons!
https://read.cash/@Librarian/encyclopaedia-draconnica-6482cd20