Did Dinosaurs inspire Dragons?

I think you, like many others, have heard of " Dragons " at least once in your life. Virtually every culture in the world refers to these supernatural monsters in their folklore. Some of these creatures take the form of winged, fire-breathing reptiles. The most well-known are European (or Western) Dragons and Asian Dragons . In Europe, they are described as enormous, dangerous, and fiercely hostile, while in Asia, they are seen as positive and benevolent symbols. 🐉

We all know stories where dragons almost always end up being slain by a valiant knight in shining armor at the end of a grueling quest. That being said, one question remains unanswered: Who inspired dragons? And what are the origins of dragons ? The most likely hypothesis is that dinosaur bones first inspired the various dragon myths . If you love them, get your Dinosaur Plushie right away! 🦖

Before exploring the connection between dragons and dinosaurs , it's important to understand what a dragon is . In short, the word "dragon" comes from the Greek " drákōn ," meaning "serpent" or "water serpent." In fact, the earliest mythological dragons resembled snakes more than dinosaurs 🦖 or pterosaurs (flying reptiles). It's also important to recognize that dragons aren't unique to Western tradition. The dragon is ubiquitous in Asian mythology , where it's known as " lóng " in Chinese. 🐉

Are Dinosaurs the Ancestors of Dragons?

Determining the exact origin of dragon myths is a nearly impossible task, regardless of the culture. After all, we were absent some 5,000 years ago. It's difficult to find a witness who heard the conversations or folktales of that time, passed down through countless generations, about the Beast.

That said, there are three likely possibilities that link the existence of Dragons and Dinosaurs .

• 1) Dragons are descended from the most terrifying predators of the prehistoric (Jurassic) era , the Dinosaurs.

Until only a few hundred years ago, human life was cruel, brutal, and short. Many adults and children fell victim to vicious and savage animals. The anatomical details of dragons vary from culture to culture. It is likely that these monsters were imagined in a fragmented way from familiar and fearsome predators. For example, the head of a crocodile, the scales of a snake, the skin of a tiger, and the wings of an eagle.

• 2) The Dragons were inspired by the discovery of giant fossils .

Ancient civilizations could easily have stumbled upon the bones of long-extinct dinosaurs or the mammalian megafauna of the Cenozoic era. Like modern paleontologists , these accidental fossil hunters may have been inspired to create visual reconstructions of "dragons" by piecing together bleached skulls and spines. As with the theory above, this would explain why so many dragons are chimeras that appear to have been assembled from the body parts of various animals.

• 3) The dragons were loosely based on recently extinct mammals and reptiles .

This is the most far-fetched, but also the most romanticized, of all the theories about dragons . If the earliest humans spread rumors, they may well have passed on stories of creatures that became extinct 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. If this theory proves true, the legend of the dragon may have been inspired by dozens of creatures, such as the giant sloth and the saber-toothed tiger in America, or the giant Megalania lizard in Australia (a monitor lizard similar to the Komodo dragon ), which, at 10 meters long and weighing two tons, certainly reached the size of a dragon.

Dinosaurs and Dragons in Modern Times

Few, if any, paleontologists believe in the various legends about dragons. The hypothesis is that these myths were invented by ancient humans who witnessed a dinosaur in their lifetime. The distorted story was then passed down through countless generations. This hasn't stopped scientists from having some fun with the dragon myth, which explains the recent names of dinosaurs like " Dracorex ," " Dracopelta ," " Dilong, " and " Guanlong ," which incorporate the root "lóng," corresponding to the Chinese word for "dragon." Dragons may never have existed, but they can still be resurrected, at least in part, in the form of dinosaurs.

Is the Komodo dragon a dinosaur?

No. Komodo dragons are not dinosaurs; they are lizards. In fact, birds are more closely related to dinosaurs than to lizards. Komodo dragons are often said to have toxic saliva or a "venomous bite," but their prey usually dies from being torn apart.

Adrienne Mayor, in her book "Fossil Legends of the First Americans", states that "many images of dragons around the world are based on folk knowledge or exaggerations of living reptiles, such as Komodo dragons, Gila monsters, iguanas, alligators or, in California, alligator lizards".

What are the differences between dragons and dinosaurs?

I think it's very safe to say that dinosaurs inspired the myths, stories, and legends of dragons. However, there are still reasons why dragons cannot be dinosaurs. Let's examine the very clear differences and similarities between a dragon and a dinosaur. Here are the main differences between dragons and dinosaurs :

• Dragons
• Dragons are not real (myth)
• Dragons can fly
• Dragons can breathe fire
• Some dragons can talk
• Some dragons hoard gold in caves.
• Some dragons make excellent pets
  
  

• Dinosaurs
• Dinosaurs are real (fossils)
• Dinosaurs don't fly (flying reptiles are not dinosaurs)
• Dinosaurs don't breathe fire
• Dinosaurs don't talk
• Dinosaurs don't hoard gold in caves.
• Dinosaurs are not pets (Jurassic Park)

After the differences, here are the main similarities between Dragons and Dinosaurs :

• They both have claws
• They are both tall
• They both have big teeth
• They both have long tails

Dragon vs. Dinosaur

In your opinion, if these two species were to meet, who would be the prey and who the predator? It's difficult to judge, I agree. There are many factors to consider, such as size, aggression, and the instincts of the animal in question.

A dragon, whether it be Smaug or Drogon , wouldn't stand a chance. Let me explain why. First, the images and sizes of dragons found online are perhaps exaggerated, especially that of Ancalgon the Black . Keep in mind that if they existed in the Mesozoic Era, or if they were already on Earth before that time, it would be physically impossible for even the largest wyvern or wyrm to reach the size of Balerion the Black Terror shown in Game of Thrones or Smaug in The Lord of the Rings. Otherwise, their bones and skeletal structure would likely collapse under their own weight; the effect or influence of gravity prevents it.

Ultimately, there are far too many variables to determine the winner if a fight were to occur between these two creatures. Dragon versus Dinosaur : you have to choose the species beforehand, along with the size and weight of each. Let's take the case of T-Rex versus Drogon, remaining as realistic as possible while still immersing ourselves in fiction.

Certainly, Drogon would have the advantage in the air; he could use his flames to try and incinerate the T-Rex , which cannot fly. However, we don't know the T-Rex's muscle tissue's resistance to flames, nor its fighting spirit. Hypothetically, the T-Rex could withstand several bursts of flame, bide its time, and wait for Drogon to land before attempting to attack. A ground battle would be on a completely different scale. The T-Rex's titanic jaw power and razor-sharp claws would leave Drogon little chance, as he is slower on the ground.

If you prefer these kinds of creatures but cuter, you can take a look at our Dragon Plushies below. What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts on dragons and dinosaurs.