Egypt

The Egyptians had a few dragons of their own. They depicted them with their hieroglyphics, and they have influenced the dragon world today considerably.

• Akhekhu
• Ammut
• Apep
• Denwen
• Ka-en-ankh Nereru
• Mehen
• Nehebkau
• Uraeus
• Wadjet
• Footnotes

History: Very little has been recorded on this creature, but it is said to be a drake-like, semisupernatural being in the folklore of Egypt. European travelors carried it over into European folkore as well.

Symbolism: Unknown

Physical Description: This creature is said to have four legs and be very serpent-like in appearance.

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History: At first, Apep was the Egyptian Sun god. However, he was replaced by Ra, and he became very irked about it. Apep became a symbol of evil, and he was depicted often as a serpent-dragon. You see, Ra would travel through the Underworld, Amenta, every night in his Boat of the Sun. Each night, Apep would try to end Ra's journey, but each night he failed. On occasions, what we call eclipses, Apep would succeed on his mission, but later he would reguirgitate.

This is why Apep was considered a symbol of Chaos. He also controled things such as Thunderstorms and such, which is another reason Egyptians never worshiped him. They mutilated wax, and even spit upon it, in hopes that Ra would always prevail over this Apep.

Though this creature is depicted as having no limbs, I have heard excerpts of books that say that this creature did have them. However, Ra seems to have "cut them off" or such things.

Symbolism: Apep was a symbol of Chaos and of an eclipse.

Physical Description: Most depict him as a large, whale-shaped serpent rather than a skinny eel-shaped serpent. He is a sea serpent, without wings, and a huge, enormous body.

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History: Not too much is known of this serpent, but he was a fiery one. Thought to be a threat to the gods, this creature was shunned by Egyptians. Luckily, the King of Egypt prevented this creature from destroying the gods.

Symbolism: Egyptians stressed the power of the gods, and this dragon proved to be the ultimate threat. Denwen is a symbol of evil, and the one who slew him was a symbol of a true king.

Physical Description: Unknown

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History: Wadjet was considered the Mistress of Lower Egypt. She and her sister, Nekhebet are considered guard tombs. She held a fiery breathe by which she destroyed all her foes. She rose on the sun using her tail, so it is told.

Symbolism: Her symbol is one of ruler ship, and it appears on the crown of Pharohs.

Physical Description: She is seen in art as a cobra-serpent creature. She has extended wings and is undoubtly female.

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History: Nehebkau has a rather strange genealogy, as some myths claim he is the son of Geb and others claim he is the son of Serket. He, however, was tamed by Ra and even rode with him in the Boat of the Sun.

Nehebkau's name means 'He who harnesses the spirits'. He was somewhat of a menace to the gods and to man, but Ra, as I have said, tamed him somewhat. He provided meals for the dead, too. He is said to be immune to both water and fire as well as some other magics.

Nehebkau was a huge serpent-dragon with human arms and legs. Most of the body was depicted as snake-like, as it was his job to protect against snake's and scorpian's poisoins. Among his other occupations was protecting the Pharoah in the afterlife. It is also said that this dragon guarded the Underworld.

Symbolism: Nehebkau was a symbol of change, and he showed how Ra could help anyone who needed it.

Physical Description: He had four legs and a long, slender body. He was much like a snake, as he had to protect against them.

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History: Though Ammut was not nessassarily completely dragon-ish in her appearance, she did have the head of a crocodile. She was much feared by the Egyptians, as she would end their cycle of life if they were sinners.

You see, Ammut's job was to wait while the peron's sins were weighed. The Egyptians believed that their heart would be weighed against a feather, and if the person's heart was heavier than that, it was obvious that the person was a sinner. Ammut would then devour their souls. She is also noted as 'Great of Death'.

Symbolism: She was a shining symbol of warning: do well, or she will take your soul. Though some believe that she was a symbol of evil, she simply ate those who were evil.

Physical Description: She has the head of a crocodile and the body of a beast.

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History: As a part of the rising of the sun, Ka-en-ankh Nereru is a cosmic serpent who covers the night skies. Unlike Apep, Ka-en-ankh Nereru does not fight Ra, the sun god, but rather allows Ra to rejuvinate himself so that he may make the new sun rise in the morning.

Symbolism: This creature is a part of the rising of the sun and the falling of the sun. Therefore, this creature can be a sign of revitilization.

Physical Description: As described in the Book if the Coming Forth into Day, this is a vast serpent, so vast in fact that its body stretches through the darkness (night skies).

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History: While Mehen is seldom noted, he was a dragon nonetheless. Often depicted as being coiled around the boat of the Sun, this creature did his best to protect Ra, the sun god. In pictures, Mehen is almost always with Ra, and usually is coiled about the ship with Ra near the center, standing.

Symbolism: Symbolising goodness, Mehen can be seen as a role model for guards, parents, and so on.

Physical Description: Unknown

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History: Uraeus is identified with Buto, the goddess of lower Egypt. Being a divine snake, sometimes referred to as a cobra, Uraeus appears on the white crown of lower Egypt and is said to protect the bearer from her or his enemies.

In addition, Uraeus also often appears with the sun gods. Upon the winged solar disk, two of these divine creatures can be found on either side. The snake is also represented on Egyptian tombs, where the snake can ward away anyone who would dare enter. Uraeus would do this by spitting fire at those who approach.

Symbolism: This creature, in ancient Egypt, was seen as a protector.

Physical Description: Uraeus was depicted most commonly as a cobra.

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1. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
2. A Diversity of Dragons by Anne McCaffrey and Richard Woods
3. Who's Who in Egyptian Mythology by Anthony S. Mercatanted
4. Wadjet, Goddess of Lower Egypt, Papyrus, and Protector of Pharaoh...
5. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
6. Ancient Egyptian Lives
7. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
8. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
9. Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose

For more information, see the Bibliography