More Dragon Trivia

The study of dragons is an immense subject, and could easily fill an encyclopedia. However, in the course of my research, I collected several bits of trivia which may interest dragon enthusiasts:

For example, dragons provide significant words to our language, and tales to our folklore.

Dragon terminology

A female dragon is a dragoness, a word used since the early 17th century.

A small or young dragon is a dragonet.

Anything pertaining to a dragon is dracontine.

Garguiyle was originally the name of an 8th century dragon in Rouen, France who was killed by St. Romanus. The word gargoyle comes from the name of this dragon.

At least one dragon was killed by a woman, Tarasque, the dragon of Isle. St. Marguerite. This dragon was conquered by St. Martha.

A dragon's environment

There are few natural enemies of dragons. Some are the stork, stag, and ichneumon. The latter is a relative of the mongoose, which is known to destroy crocodile eggs in Egypt. According to legend, dragons are terrified of the ichneumon and will cover themselves in mud and try to close their nostrils to avoid attack by the weasel-like animal.

Flora and fauna

In zoology, draco describes an animal's characteristic of wing-like membranes on its flanks.

Other sciences

In alchemy, caput dragonis, or the "dragon's head" is the term for the poisonous breath of the winged dragon.

As late as the 16th century, draconite stone was believed to come from the head of a dragon.

Draco, which is the Latin word for dragon, is also the name of a famous constellation, best seen in July. About 4000 years ago, Thuban, the fourth star from the end of the tail, used to be our North Star.

More dragon lore

There are many astronomy terms which relate the moon to dragons. Likewise, in Western and Oriental lore, dragons are supposed to participate in eclipses.

In mythology, Cadmus planted dragon's teeth and from the ground, armed warriors sprouted.

Additional helpful links and lore:

• Legends of the Dragon offers more than the usual amount of information about dragons. Recommended.
• At that same site, the legend of Cadmus and the Dragon explains the foundation of Thebes.
• The constellation Draco - information and lore.
• Dragonwort, or Dragon Root, aka Wake Robin, a poisonous herb.

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Author's note: When I began this series of articles about dragons, it was purely a whim and I did not take dragons seriously. Now, I'm not so certain. I was not prepared for the apparently limitless documented stories about dragons in history.

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