Dragon is a legendary dreadful monster that never existed in reality. It is a mythical figure born out of people’s imagination long time ago. The belief in this creature apparently arose without the slightest knowledge on the part of the ancients about the gigantic, prehistoric dragon like reptiles.
The word ‘Dragon’ comes from the Greek word ‘Drakon’ which was used for a large serpent. But dragon as a monster represents a huge, fire-breathing, bat-winged scaly lizard or snake with a barbed tail. In later period it mostly remained in the shape of a snake. In the Eastern world where snakes are large and deadly, a dragon symbolized evil. But in the West it was accepted both as a symbol of good and evil depending on circumstances. On the whole its evil reputation was stronger. The Christians and Jews perceived it as evil and dangerous. In Christian arts, dragon represented sin and sorrow.
The form and appearance of dragon varied from place to place. The Babylonian dragon had four legs and the Biblical dragon was described as a many-headed creature, like the Greek Hydra. In wartimes it was used as an emblem representing valour. In the 20th century the dragon was officially incorporated in the armorial bearings of the Prince of Wales. The Chinese dragon, known as lungs, appears as the national symbol. The Japanese as well as Chinese dragons are usually wingless. Dragon images are also used in the north-eastern states of India as well as in Bhutan during different festivals.
The Komodo dragons found in some Indonesian Islands are infact very large lizards. However, the dragons in the general sense still are mythical figures.