European Dragons

In western folklore, there are many kinds of dragons from all around the European countries, all sharing common traits but with unique characteristic as well. Generally the myths and folklore are Germanic Europe, Celtic Europe, and Slavic Europe. Dragons in the western folklore are usually depicted as an evil figure, with exception mainly with Welsh folklore, it is in contrast with the Chinese dragons or Asian dragons which traditionally depicted as deities and more benevolent creatures.


The European Dragon is a huge, fire-breathing, horned, scaly and lizard-like creature. With leathery wings that is similar to bats, four legs and a long muscular tail. There is also the Wyvern, which is commonly mistaken as a dragon. Wyvern has no more then two legs and sometimes 2 pair of wings.



Most dragons in the European folklore are fire-breathing dragons, while some possess venomous bite, usually wyverns. Most of the time it is scaly, horned and leathery wings, sometimes it is shown with feathered wings and crest, fiery manes with spikes all the way down to the spine. Legends said that Dragon's blood usually contain magical properties whether its to be able to speak the language of the dragons or heal terminal disease or just a curse to drink it. Many stories often associated a great hero set forth to slay a dragon, typically European dragons or wyverns are often found in abandoned castles or caves and underground lairs protecting gold, treasures and jewelries for those who is able to slay the dragon.

While most dragon in the European folklore are depicted as evil, some hates mankind, destroyer of farm crops and agriculture, bring harsh weathers and natural disaster. There are those that choose to oppose their own kind and help mankind.

Appearance in Popular Culture

Dragons has been around in many popular cultures since the 20th century, from novels, films, video games and so on. Asian dragons and European dragons has made a lot of appearance in popular cultures.


  • Middle-Earth, 1937
J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe setting, contains many of his great fantasy writings and also dragons
  • Ancalagon the Black appears in
           The Fellowship of the Ring[1954]
           The Silmarillion[1977]
  • Glaurung, the first of the dragons in Middle-earth is in.....
           The Silmarillion[1977]
           The Children of Húrin[2007] edited by Christopher Tolkien
  • Scatha appears in.....
           The Return of the King[1955]
  • Smaug is in.....
           The Hobbit[1937]

The Hobbit also has a movie adaptation that is The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and the next upcoming movie The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies





  • How to Train Your Dragon 1 & 2, 2010 & 2014

 Toothless and other dragons appear in this 2 films, Toothless is a jet-black European based dragon.




Skyrim was voted as Game of the Year 2011 by gamers, the developer is Bethesda Game Studios, the game lets player plays as a person born with the power of dragon known as the Dragonborn or Dovahkiin. The dragons in the game are mostly based of the wyvern.

Appearance in Popular Culture [Pictures]


  • Monster Hunter Series, 2004 onwards. It is a video game developed and publish by CAPCOM




  • Dragon Age series, 2009, 2011, 2014[To be released]. A high fantasy role-playing video game created by Bioware.





  • Disney Animation - Mushu from Mulan, 1998.



All of the pictures above and GIF is not owned by me, they all belong to their rightful owner.