Full Description
Although stories of these creatures date back to the earliest history of humanity, they are no less fascinating or popular today as a steady stream of books, games, movies, television shows, and other media revisit their stories and reinterpret the myths. But what lies behind these myths and legends?
In Dragons & Mythical Beasts, discover the fascinating tales behind the most formidable mythical creatures ever imagined. Did these bizarre animals once exist in ancient times, inspiring the accounts and stories that have kept them alive? Or do these creatures large and small reflect the characteristics of the cultures in which they were created?
If you have a love for the myths and want to learn about the unique beasts that dwell within them, this book is a great way to do it. Not only will you learn about ones you may have never heard of, but you will also be able to draw parallels between cultures and see how they interpreted their surroundings through stories of mythical creatures and magical beasts.
Dragons & Mythical Beasts is intricately decorated, packed with beautiful images and full of fascinating tales.
Contents
Introduction
Dragons 1 St. George and the Dragon Myth 2 Beithir Scottish folklore 3 The red and white dragons of Dinas Emrys Welsh folklore 4 Lambton Worm English myth 5 The Lyminster Knucker English myth 6 The Bisterne Dragon English myth 7 Beowulf and the Dragon English myth 8 Cockatrice English myth 9 Peluda French folklore 10 Tarasque French folklore 11 Cadmus and the Ismenian dragon Greek myth 12 The Hydra Greek myth 13 The Dragon of Colchis Greek myth 14 Ladon Greek myth 15 Balaur Romanian folklore 16 Sárkány Hungarian myth 17 Lagarfljót Worm Icelandic folklore 18 Fáfnir Nordic myth 19 Wawel Dragon, aka Smok Wawelski Polish myth 20 Kulshedra Albanian myth 21 Leviathan, or Lotan Middle Eastern myth 22 Mušḫuššu Mesopotamian mythology 23 Bahram Gur and the dragon Persian myth 24 Zilant Tatar myth 25 Apep Egyptian folklore 26 Ouroboros Egyptian folklore 27 Ninki Nanka West African folklore 28 Nyami Nyami Zambezi river god 29 Ryūjin Japanese myth 30 Wani Japanese myth 31 Zennyo Ryūō Japanese myth 32 Kuzuryū Japanese myth 33 Ao Guang Chinese myth 34 Dragon turtle Chinese myth 35 Shenlong Chinese myth 36 Gaasyendietha Native American myth 37 Horned serpent Native American myth 38 Amaru Andean myth 39 Bakunawa Philippine mythology 40 Poubi Lai Meitei mythology 41 Smaug The Hobbit (novel) 42 Glaurung The Lord of the Rings (novels) 43 Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion Game of Thrones 44 Hungarian Horntail Harry Potter 45 Norwegian Ridgeback Harry Potter 46 Swedish Short-Snout Harry Potter 47. 47 Kalessin The Earthsea series (Ursula Le Guin) 48 The dragons of Pern The Dragonriders of Pern (Anne McCaffrey)
Mythical Beasts 1 Sphinx Egyptian myth 2 Phoenix Many cultures 3 Cerberus Greek myth 4 Chimera Greek myth 5 Pegasus Greek myth 6 Centaur Greek myth 7 Scylla and Charybdis Greek myth 8 Cyclops Greek myth 9 Gorgons Greek myth 10 Griffin Greek myth 11 Harpy Greek myth 12 Minotaur Greek myth 13 Unicorn Greek myth 14 Faun Roman myth 15 Black shuck English myth 16 Kelpies Scottish myth 17 Selkies Scottish myth 18 Redcap Scottish myth 19 Dwarf Myth 20 Elf Myth 21 Vampire European myth 22 Banshee Irish myth 23 Jörmungandr Norwegian sea serpent 24 Vritra Hindu myth 25 Makara Hindu myth 26 Manticore Persian myth 27 Scorpion-men Mesopotamian, Babylonian myth 28 Mermaid Myth 29 Golem Jewish myth 30 Behemoth Jewish myth
Picture credits
