With a movie like How To Train Your Dragon in the cinema just now, it is time to fly the flag for this scaly, winged beast with the savage talons and fiery breath. Unlike the recently-lauded duck, the dragon is a mythical beast, found on the prows of Viking ships, on heraldic crests, national flags, and in Chinese New Year celebrations. That is the peculiar and remarkable thing about the dragon; unrelated cultures the world over have their own version of this beast. The Incas had their feathered serpent and the Chinese have their long, wormy thing with the smiley face. St George slew a rather wicked one while the wooden, Viking version supposedly brought luck on those long, sea voyages. It is as if us mortals need our dragons!
My favourites are the movie versions, for instance that lovely, cuddly friendly dragon of Shrek fame, and the rather more sinister, soothsaying CGI number from the television series, Merlin. And I must not forget the Soup Dragon of Clangers fame, those cute, knitted creatures spun from the imagination of the late Oliver Postgate. So, there be dragons; on the beaches, out at sea, in the skies, deep in caves and most importantly, in our hearts and minds.
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