The legend of the serpent or dragon slayer appears in various ancient mythologies. They were often separated by oceans and thousands of miles. Science believes that this is only a symbolic story to illustrate the hero's triumph over the monstrous personification of evil who, by some strange coincidence, always takes the form of a serpent or a dragon. This motif can be found in the myths of various cultures, including Greek, Norse, Mesopotamian, Chinese and Mesoamerican. Does it hide some unknown secret?
In Greek mythology, the hero Perseus embarks on a dangerous quest to kill the fearsome Gorgon Medusa, whose hair consists of poisonous snakes. Armed with a mirror shield, winged sandals, and a sword, Perseus decapitates Medusa, eventually using her severed head as a weapon against other foes. In Norse mythology, the hero Sigurd faces the mighty dragon Fafnir, gaining the ability to understand the language of birds and gaining great wealth and wisdom.
Turning the clock back a bit further, Mesopotamian legends tell of the success of the god Marduk, who confronts the monstrous serpent Tiamat, representing primordial chaos. Marduk engages in a fierce battle, eventually defeating and killing Tiamat, establishing order in the universe. In Mesoamerican civilizations, the deity Quetzalcoatl confronts the serpent god Quetzalcoatlus. This epic battle symbolizes the eternal struggle between good and evil, in which Quetzalcoatl finally defeats the serpent deity.
In Chinese mythology, the hero Huangdi, also known as the Yellow Emperor, fights against the mythical nine-headed dragon Chi You. and the myths of the Slavic peoples tell of the epic fight between Perun and Veles, appearing in the form of an air viper. Europeans still know the stories of Saint George and his heroic battle with the dragon. This legendary tale was extraordinarily celebrated in European folklore and medieval literature. Japanese mythology includes the legend of Yamata no Orochi, a terrifying eight-headed dragon creature. Susanoo, the deity of Shinto, fights the beast to protect the village and is ultimately victorious with clever tactics and divine help.
The common thread of these legends is a symbolic struggle between a heroic figure and a mighty serpent or dragon, often representing chaos, evil, or the primal forces of nature. The victory of the hero means the triumph of order, virtue and civilization over chaos and evil. But where does this mysterious fascination with giant reptiles come from? Were there any creatures in the past that gave rise to the legends of dragons?
The enduring presence of the myth of dragon slayers in many ancient cultures may mean that the pursuit of heroism and triumph in the face of adversity is a universal value for humans. However, it is impossible not to consider whether in the distant past there was an incident that provoked the emergence of so many legends on what would not be an almost identical topic.
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