Last Update: 20 January 2004
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India
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Because there was no real concrete definition of "dragon" when the sightings first appeared, alot of different creatures got into the lists.



Illiana, the Golden Dragon, has the following dragons and dragon tales:
  • Buddha Naga
  • Lu Thaye
  • Manasa
  • Mucilinda
  • Vasuki
  • Raja Naga
Notes:

  • Indian dragons would often take woman form.
  • Live in the watery region under the Earth called Patala
  • May also be linked the African dragons as described by Pliny

Dragons in India and Persia may have started many of the trends now seen in dragons, including their frightful appearance, tendancy to run off with the village women, and guarding treasure. (Source: Dragons and Dragon Lore)

From The Book of Beasts:
  • Most are bred where there's perpetual heat.
  • Milky Way was called the "Path of the Snake".
  • Enemy of doves and fears the Perindeus Tree and its shadow.

Captain M'Quhae of the HMS Daedalus reported seeing a sea serpent in August 1848. This sighting started the idea that maybe the sea monsters were really surviving plesiosaurs. (Source: Book of Sea Monsters).

According to the Dictionary of Literary Themes and Motifs, Vol 1, "in the seventh century, Isidore of Seville (Etymologiae) ... defined the dragon as the large flying creature of Ethiopia and India who lives near rocks and kills even elephants."

Further Reading:
  • Windseeker has a good section about Dragons from the account of Greek Travelers - mostly colouring and personality.

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