Unsorted Dragons

This section is for dragons that have not yet been sorted.

• Damballah
• Illuyankas
• King of Snakes
• Leviathan
• Smaug
• Tutaeporoporo
• Yam-nahar
• Footnotes

History: Note: There are two versions of this story, both are listed here.

Illuyankas battled with Teshub and is victorious. Teshub then went to Inaras to get help. She planned to make Illuyankas drunk with a good amount of liquore. She made him drink his fill, and then she bounthim. After this, Teshub appeared, along with some of the other gods, and killed him.

In another version, Illuyankas and Teshub battle, and Teshub ends up losing. With that, Illuyankas takes Teshub's heart and eyes as a prize.

Teshub then raises a son. When he is old, he happens to marry Illuyankas' daughter. Teshub orders his son to ask for this missing part returned as a part of the wedding gift. Think nothing of it, the eyes and heart are returned.

Now that Teshub was restored, he went to prove himself by defeating Illuyankas. When Teshub's son finds out about it, he asks his father to take him with Illuyankas, as he had too much to do with it. So, Teshub kills them both.

Symbolism: Teshub is, undoubtly, a symbol of revenge. In the first story, Illyankas is a symbol of gluttony as well as a reason not to allow yourself to be drunk. After all, it lead to his eventual demise. In the second variation, it appears as if the symbolism is lost.

Physical Description: Unknown.

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History: Tutaeporoporo was a water-serpent that inhabited the river of Whanganui. The creature was favored by the chief Tuariki, but, for some reason, turned deadly. The creature began eating people by the boat loads.²

It was then that Aokehu appeared to save all those who lived near Whanganui. He managed to float down the river in a hollow log toward the dragon's lair. The creature came to swallow him.³

However, Aokehu had a different plan. He killed the creature from withing utilizing sharks' teeth. The creature drifted ashore and Aokehu was freed. Today, Tutaeporoporo is depicted on Wanganui City's coat of arms.

Symbolism: Tutaeporoporo is perhaps a symbol of gluttony.

Physical Description: Following the common description of a Taniwha, Tutaeporoporo was a huge lizard that dwelled within a river.

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History: Smaug was the red dragon in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.He protected the riches of Lonely Mountain for himself after killing several dwarves to get it. Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard, and thirteen other dwarves all ventured to Lonely Mountain in order to obtain their riches.

When there, the dwarven party snuck around the mountain and entered into the back door. Bilbo, having a ring that made him invisible, had the first encounter with the dragon. After some trial, the dragon rages out of the cave, angered, and then flew to torment the town near Lonely Mountain.

While the dragon tormented the villiagers, the king of the village fled. The town's master archer looked at the dragon and tried to find a weakness. Smaug's underbelly was soft, but it was covered with many spectacular jewels to protect himself. However, there was one jewel missing, and the archer managed to hit that one spot. With a screech, Smaug feel into the water and died.

Symbolism: Smaug proves as another poor symbol for dragons. He is a sign of greed and power, and he is often depicted in artwork alone with his horde.

Physical Description: Smaug is usually considered a red western dragon. He has firey breathe and a long, thin snout. He is also commonly depicted guarding his horde, breathing fire, or falling into water.

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History: Leviathan can be found in the Bible and is described as a creature whose power is far better than that of man. He is described as having eyes that shine as the rising sun, and his back was described as being made of a row of shields.

In addition to this, it is said that when Jehova created life he also created this creature. On Doomsday, God will kill this dragon and this will be the end of the world.

Symbolism: Many suggest that the Leviathan is a symbol of man's rebellious nature against God.

Physical Description: Though Leviathan is described as a Sea Serpent, it is often thought to be some type of dinosaur that was still around during the ages of the Bible. The creature is described like many of them, but it is noted that the Bible states plainly that "Out of his mouth go burning lamps, And sparks or fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke," which means that the creature breathed fire.

Related Articles: The Story of the Leviathan

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History: He fueded with his brother, Baal, god of fertility. Yam-Nahar was the god of the sea and rivers, and Baal disliked Yam-Nahar because he believed that El favored him.

This creature was said to be a sea dragon with seven heads. Yam-Nahar did not live very long, as Baal killed him when he was still young.

Symbolism: Baal is perhaps a symbol of jealousy.

Physical Description: It is said that, while this creature was a sea serpent, it also boasted seven heads.

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History: Damballah is said to be one of the most important god of the Vodoun religion of the Carribean.⁷ He is married to Dan Ayido Hwedo, who is also a Rainbow Snake.⁸

Damballah is a fertillity god as well as the god of all the Vodoun divinities. (He is also said to be the father of said divinities.) He forms the arch of the heavens. When traveling on earth, deep valleys are made when he passes. He also presents himself as a rainbow, along with his wife. ⁹ Sometimes the rainbows are seen as reflections of his scales.¹⁰

His holy color is white, and he is associated with snakes. Sundays¹¹ His vast coils bask before the sun, or he swims through the oceans, which creates waves.¹² Due to Damballah's age, he does not speak, although his blessings are said to be powerful.¹³

Symbolism: Damballah is clearly seen as a powerful serpent. His movements are used to explain earthquakes¹⁴ as well as the movement of the ocean, the appearance of the rainbow, and the creation of valleys.

Physical Description: He is seen simply as a huge serpent, although his colors have been said to be white and silver.

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History: There once was a shepherd tending his flock who heard the hissing of a snake. Curious, he walked towards the hissing to see what was going on. He then saw that the snake was near a forest which was burning. The snake was hissing at the flames, by which he was surrounded.The shepherd watched because he was interested in what the snake would do.

The snake looked up and said, "For GOD's sake, save me!" So the shepherd reached out the crook of his staff, and the snake slithered on to it. The snake then slithered over the man and around his neck, and he was fearful because he believed the snake was going to kill him. The snake, however, told the man to take him to his father, the king of snakes, who would reward him. The shepherd worried for his flock, but the snake assured him that they would be all right.

So the shepherd carried the snake to the king of snakes, whose palace gates were covered in snakes. But they openned as soon as the snake spoke to them. The snake then told the shepherd, "My father will grant you anything, from silver to gold to jewels, but ask instead for the gift to speak to animals. He will hesistate, at first, but then he will grant it to you."

So the shepherd came before the king of snakes with his son, whom the snake was glad to see. The king of snakes then asked the man how he could repay him, and the shepherd asked for the ability to understand the language of animals. The king of snakes refused, telling him that it would not be wise for a human to have such a gift; after all, should he tell anyone he had it, he would die. The shepherd refused all other gifts and turned to leave. The king of snakes resigned himself and gave the man the ability to understand the language of animals.

When he returned to his flock, he overheard ravens reporting that there was much gold under the earth where he tended the flock. He send for his master and told him; his master dug it up yet let the shepherd keep it. With this, the shepherd became rich, married, and had his own shepherds to tend his flock. One evening, he told his servents to feast while he watched his own flock. He heard wolves howl and speak to the dogs. They told the dogs that, should the dogs allow them to kill a sheep, the dogs would feast with them. All the dogs but one old dog agreed, but the old dog shouted out, "As long as I live, you will not harm my master's property!"

The next day, the shepherd ordered his servants to kill all but the old dog; this confused the servants, who thought it was folly. He commanded them again, and they did it. Then, the shepherd and his wife went out riding. The shepherd's horse was keeping ahead of his wife's, which was a mare. The stallion turned back and said, "Why do you keep so far behind?"

The mare said, "It is easy for you, for you carry the weight of one. I carry the weight of three!" And the man laughed. His wife demanded to know why he laughed, and he told her that if he told her why, he would die. She did not relent. He resigned himself to his death, having a coffin made, and he then told his wife that he would tell her why he laughed and that he would die. The old dog was there, whining. The cock came, too, looking for food. The dog glared at him and said, "You think of nothing but food? Do you not know that the master is dying?" And the cock then laughed and said that he ruled hundreds of wives by pecking them, yet the master could not rule a single one! How foolish this master must be! Upon hearing that, the man looked at his wife and picked up a stick. Seeing that she was going to be beaten, she retreated and never asked him again.

Symbolism: This story is obviously a story about a good man being rewarded as well as outlining some roles of family as well.

Physical Description: The king of snakes was a snake.

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1. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
2. Felt from the Heart
3. Dragon Races
4. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
5. The Bible
6. Illiana the Golden Dragon (defunct)
7. Damballa
8. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
9. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
10. Damballah Wedo
11. Damballah Wedo
12. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
13. Damballah Wedo
14. Damballah Wedo
15. Serbian Folklore by Madam Csedomille Mijatovies

For more information, see the Bibliography