A tricky subject this, dragons by an large are a most diverse bunch and I for one don't think that any form of ridged classification human style would be appropriate. However some broad guesses can be made. As far as the name goes, Dragon is a decent of the ancient Greek "Drakon" these were classically marine dragons of the serpentine variety, but it could be taken to mean any large reptilian found in Greek mythology. The Latin "Draco" is probably where the term "Drake" as applied to dragons came from in English.
By looking at the dragon form one can say that the ancient dragons were giant Godlike entities, these "Earth drakes" seem to be the earliest forms.
Western and Eastern dragons seem largely separate, however, several rare eastern european species (The Knucker, which was rumored to live in wells (that's the origin of throwing coins down them) and the Lindwyrm, a nocturnal dragon with only 2 forelimbs and a serpent like tail that preyed on cows) seem to link them together showing broader ties linking dragon kind.
Wyverns appear to have orriginated in north Africa, though the name comes from Medieval England probably as a result of Crusders bringing back eggs as trophies from the middle east.
The eastern dragons seem to have gone in more heavily for magecraft as the majority have no wings but still appear capable of flight, Mongolian step-dragons seem to be the most primative, while the Chinese Lung seem to have produced the greatest degree of civilisation by running the world's longest running water monopoly. Dragons are comon in Japan also, and are respected though they seem less reveired than in China.
Accounts of dragons in the new world are probably the least definate, but that probably ows most to the Spanish, and other european poweres destroying most of the records than anything else, It would seem that much like the Humans that came after dragons from the old world moved the the americas to avoid expanding human populations but this is only speculation.
There is some evidence to sugest that the Basilisk may infact be an early form of primative dragon that has survived, or that it represents the dragons' closest non-draconic relative.
My research continues and I welcome insights from fellow dragons and herps.
Bronzewing
"It thinks we're either a threat, food or a mate - it's gonna either kill us, eat us or hump us." |
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