In the Beginning

The Circle of the Dragon > Theories > In the Beginning

Dragon Bar

Where did dragons come from? This is a common question among people who have read books about dragons or even learned about them in school. People might know the types of dragons, what part of the world they are from, and all about them. But, where did the actual "dragon" come from? Surely this creature just could not have been made up in someone's mind. If it was, how is it that the dragon has popped up in every ancient culture, even when there was no contact between that culture and another? If dragons were completely made up, how can dragons be so closely linked, though varied via generation and forgotten information, and all retain the same name?

Dragon Bar

Serpent Theory
Serpent Many people believe that the origination of dragons came from serpents. Rather, they came from snakes and eels that people saw. As time went on and art evolved, these serpents became more and more decorated until they looked more like semi-Chinese dragons or sea serpents.

It is also suggested that people saw mutated eels and snakes or thought that some of their surroundings (i.e. for eels, seaweed, for snakes, sticks) were actually a part of them. Thus making them look as if they were draconic. This actually suggest that dragons were formed out of the misinterpretation of artwork, stories, and sights throughout the ages. Possible? Yes. It isn't as if they had cameras!

Bones Theory
This theory pertains to the remains that people found and called "dragon bones" so it definitely holds no water in battle of where the term dragon came from. However, it does provided an interesting idea that people thought the bones of dinosaurs to be dragons, and they though dragons to be descendants (or parents) to such serpents as the snake and lizard. The Bones Theory suggests that people found the bones and created stories about the fierce creatures that once lived within those bones.

Sadly, this theory is lacking when it comes to civilizations as China and other Asian dragons. Due to their unscientific structures, Chinese dragons and Asian dragons could never have originated from seeing bones. On the other hand, one might think that they either adapted the bones to the dragons or they only found some bones. Whichever the case, this theory is not as likely as the Serpent Theory.

Related Articles: Of Dinosaurs and Dragons

Evolutionary Theory
Well, here it is. The evolutionary theory of dragons is the grimmest. Dragons once lived, but, as they evolved, they, instead of improving, began to die off. The Evolutionary Theory suggests that only one "ruling" species can exist on Earth (or one planet) at one time. As dragons died off, it was because of humans. Not due to hunting, nor hatred, but rather to having one civilization rise above the other. And, as the other grows weaker and weaker, the other grows stronger and stronger.

Well, are there any Aztecs left? Descendants, yes, but real Aztecs that once ruled all of Mexico? No, sadly. Just as our cultures fall, so did the dragon culture. As the human race began to develop the earth to its own needs, the dragon's lost their world. The Evolutionary Theory is not a guilt trip, though. It suggests that this is the natural way with things, and that one day, mankind will have to step aside.

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