DRAGONS
The two most familiar interpretations of dragons are European dragons, derived from various European folk traditions, and the unrelated Oriental dragons, derived from the Chinese dragon. The word "dragon" derives from Greek "drakon", which translates to "a serpent of huge size".
Dragons are usually shown in modern times with a body like a huge lizard, or a snake with two pairs of lizard-type legs, and able to spit fire or poison, and ice from its mouth. The European dragon has bat-type wings growing from its back.
Dragons are often held to have major spiritual significance in various religions and cultures around the world. In many Asian cultures dragons were, and in some cultures still are, revered as representative of the primal forces of nature, religion and the universe. They are associated with wisdom—often said to be wiser than humans—and longevity. They are commonly said to possess some form of magic or other supernatural power, and are often associated with wells, rain, and rivers. In some cultures, they are also said to be capable of human speech.
While dragons are commonly regarded as merely being legendary creatures with serpentine or otherwise reptilian traits, various theorists propose that they range from literal creatures to ancient interpretations of profound celestial events.
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