Dragon & Caballero
A dragon is a mythical creature found in the folklore of cultures throughout the world. It is generally reptilian or serpentine in form and often possesses a variety of predatory features, such as claws, wings, scales, or horns. Dragons are typically portrayed as intelligent beings capable of manipulating natural elements. Their appearance commonly incorporates reptilian, mammalian, and avian traits.
In modern popular culture and Western traditions since the High Middle Ages, dragons have been depicted as large predaceous winged quadrupeds with claws, a saurian body, scales, a long tail, and an ability to breathe fire. In East Asian traditions, particularly in China, Japan, and Korea, dragons are usually portrayed as long, serpentine, and often benevolent creatures composed of features drawn from many animals, including a camel's head, a snake's neck, rabbit-like or demonic eyes, a stag's antlers, a tiger's paws, a carp's scales, a frog or clam's belly, and the claws of an eagle. Despite regional differences, dragons in nearly all cultures are regarded as powerful and awe-inspiring creatures.
Dragon-like composite creatures appear in ancient Mesopotamian art, where they could be either hostile or benevolent. In East Asia, dragons were associated with rain, the sea, and other forms of water, and from the Han dynasty onward served as emblems of imperial power. Ancient Greek drakontes were large serpents endowed with supernatural qualities; in myth they were defeated by heroes or gods, whereas in cult they were benevolent figures associated with healing and wealth. In the Western tradition, dragons were often depicted as fire-breathing monsters associated with evil and death. In modern literature and popular culture, dragons appear prominently in works by writers such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, and George R. R. Martin.
Similar Artists