From trying to swallow the moon, to the father of all monsters, here are 8 of some of the
most powerful mythological dragons and serpents from around the world!
8.
AKHEKH
Akhekh, also known as Akhekhu, was a four-legged dragon with a long, serpentine body that resided
in remote corners of Egypt, particularly in the fringe deserts and wastelands near the
fertile Nile valley.
According to some ancient Egyptian records, Akhekh was believed to be associated with
the deity Set/Seth.
This makes sense, as the serpent was a common symbol of Set, who also represented the personification
of darkness and evil.
Stories about Akhekh were brought to Europe by travelers.
There, it earned an elevated legendary status and may have served as inspiration for the
legends of the Griffins.
Versions of Akekh differed depending on region.
In Egypt, it had many of the stereotypical characteristics that come to mind when most
people think of mythical dragons.
Later stories that circulated in Europe, however, described the being as having the body of
antelope, the head of a bird, and serpentine-like features.
In both European and ancient Egyptian accounts, Akhekh is often depicted as having three uraei
on his head.
A uraeus is an upright form of the Egyptian cobra that was often used as a symbol of sovereignty
and divine authority.
7.
BAKUNAWA
In Filipino mythology, Bakunawa was a monstrous, snake-like dragon that periodically attempted
to swallow the moon, causing lunar eclipses.
Bakunawa was a god, according to some variations of the myth, and an adversary of the gods
in some other versions.
The creature’s history is long and complex, and varies based on different regions of the
Philippines.
One story holds that he lived in the sea at a time when the world had seven moons.
Fascinated by the glow of the celestial bodies, Bakunawa simply wasn’t satisfied with admiring
the moons from afar.
Instead, he rose up out of the water and ate them.
To prevent the world from becoming completely dark, people went outside at night and banged
pots and pans together, and also played drums, hoping to cause Bakunawa to spit the moon
out and to scare him away.
One children’s song even pleads with the ruthless reptile to have pity and return the
moon to its rightful place in the sky.
As evil as Bakunawa sounds, he wasn’t officially demonized until the Spaniards came to the
Philippines and began converting people to Christianity.
The Spaniards essentially depicted Bakunawa as a version of Satan, claiming that the dragon
would eat humans.
This caused mothers to warn their children about the dangers of Bakunawa in an effort
to get them to behave.
Bakunawa was first documented in 1637 by a man named Father Alonso de Mentrida.
According to his and other records, the term was originally used to describe lunar and
solar eclipses, along with a legend about a serpentine creature that eats - or tries
to eat - the moon.
Unfortunately, documented stories of Bakunawa are hard to come by, further complicating
the ability to decipher the history and various myths surrounding the dragon.
Similar stories of dragons that swallow the moon have circulated in other Asian countries,
including China, as well as regions of Southeast Asia with a history of Hindu influence, such
as Indonesia and Malaysia.
The name “Bakunawa” translates to both “moon eater” and “man eater,” and
is used as a slang term to describe a corrupt government official or a greedy person.
6.
NIDHOGG
Nidhogg was a fierce dragon who chewed at the roots of an ash tree called Yggdrasil
(ig-drasil) which supported the nine realms of Norse mythology.
He was intent on destroying peace and virtue and he ruled over criminals, and was therefore
sometimes appropriately called the “Malice Striker.”
This massive, horned dragon had bright scales and two powerful forelegs with ferocious claws.
He had no back legs, but possessed a serpentine tail and bat-like wings, under which he carried
the bodies of deceased criminals.
Typically, Nidhogg dwelled where he ate - among the roots of Yggdrasil.
He particularly favored the roots of the cold world, called Niflheimr.
Sometimes, Nidhogg visited the dark goddess of Hel, who was rumored to be his master.
As pesky and downright intimidating as Niddhog may seem, his role as a dark figure was meant
to balance Yggdrasil.
A squirrel named Ratatoskr acted as a messenger between Niddhog and a great eagle perched
at the top of Yggdrasil, who represented wisdom and virtue.
The tension generated from the insulting messages between Niddhog and the great eagle caused
them to destroy Yggdrasil in frenzied attacks against one another.
Then, the tree was bathed in well water that promoted growth and healing.
Nidhogg also helped bring justice to criminals by transporting them to their final resting
place along the dark shores of Nadastrond.
Here, they were banished to a terrifying hall, where dragons ate their bodies.
5.
DRUK
The druk is a highly-respected, elaborately-scaled dragon hailing from Bhutanese and Tibetan
mythology.
According to legend, the lightning flashes of the large and violent thunderstorms that
are common in the Himalayan valley represent dragonfire.
The Drupka lineage, which originated in Tibet, adopted the druk as an emblem when one of
its founders, Tsangpa Gyare,(gui-ya) witnessed a large thunderstorm and considered it an
omen.
At the time, the Ralung Monastery was being built in Tibet.
Gyare added “thunder dragon” to the monastery’s name, officially calling it Drug-Ralung.
The monastery’s disciples were called Drugpa, meaning “Those of the Thunder,” and the
symbolism of the druk spread into the area of modern-day Bhutan as the sect grew in popularity
and more monasteries were built.
Today, this “Thunder Dragon” is a national symbol of Bhutan and is even featured on the
country’s flag, holding jewels that represent wealth.
In Dzongkha, or Bhutanese, language, Bhutan is called Druk Yul, which translates to “Land
of Druk.”
The Bhutanese national anthem, Druk Tsendhen, means “Kingdom of Druk.”
Bhutan’s leaders are addressed as Druk Gyalpo, meaning “Thunder Dragon Kings.”
4.
FAFNIR
In Norse mythology, Fafnir was a great dragon that started out as a mere dwarf who was known
for his brave soul and strong right arm.
He was the son of a dwarf king named Hreidmar, who demanded compensation for the loss of
one of his sons in gold from the god Odin.
Odin gave the gold to Hreidmar.
Because Fafnir was the strongest and most aggressive out of Hreidmar’s remaining living
sons, he was chosen to guard the treasure.
Fafnir became greedy, however, and killed his father to get his hands on the gold.
To further protect the treasure, he transformed into a dragon.
He wreaked havoc on anyone who went near him and breathed poison to keep people away from
his fortune.
Fafnir’s brother, a blacksmith named Regin, asked his foster son and a young hero named
Sigurd, who was the Norse version of the German hero Siegfried, to kill Fafnir.
Once the deed was done, Regin asked Sigurd to cook the dragon’s heart for him.
As the heart cooked, Sigurd touched it with his thumb to check to see if it was done and
was burned.
He put his injured thumb in his mouth in an attempt to relieve it, and suddenly began
understanding the language of the birds.
The birds told Sigurd that Regin planned to kill him.
Instead, Sigurd killed Regin and ran off with the treasure.
3.
KUKULCAN
This feathered serpent god was one of the most important mythological beings of ancient
Mesoamerica and went by a few names.
The Maya called him Kukulcan.
To the Aztecs, he was Quetzalcoatl.
The K'iche', a Maya group located in modern-day Guatemala, referred to him as Gukumatz.
This god is thought to have originated from the Olmec culture, who thrived in Mexico between
the 15th and fifth centuries BC.
The pre-Columbian Toltec civilization, which existed throughout Mexico from the 12th to
10th centuries BC, spread the belief of Kukulcan as they conquered neighboring societies.
It’s likely that the legend of Kukulcan was brought to the Maya by the Toltecs.
The destruction of the Maya codices by Spanish conquistadors and Catholic priests complicated
the ability to fully learn about Kukulcan, leaving researchers little to rely on besides
ancient Mayan architecture featuring depictions of the god.
In the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza, there’s a step pyramid dominating the landscape
called El Castillo, or Temple of Kukulcan.
At the base of the pyramid’s staircases, there are carvings of Kukulcan’s head.
Kukulcan was the god of the wind, sun, and sky, and was the supreme leader of the gods,
according to ancient Mayan beliefs.
He was depicted as a combination between a rattlesnake and a quetzal bird, much like
Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec version of the god.
Man received knowledge and laws from Kukulcan, who was typically a merciful and kind god.
However, he also had the ability to punish humans by inflicting severe suffering on them.
2.
KUR
Kur’s origins lie within Mesopotamian and Sumerian mythology.
He was an underworld deity that lived in the empty space between the earth’s crust and
the sea, and corresponded roughly to the Hebrew Leviathan and the Babylonian Tiamat.
This dragon was dark, gigantic, and scaly, with massive wings.
Sumerian mythology holds that immediately after the formation of the world, Kur stole
a goddess named Ereshkigal and took her to the nether world.
To avenge the kidnapping, the water deity, Enki, traveled by boat to the nether world
and attacked Kur.
Water overpowered Enki’s boat from all sides as Kur hurled rocks at the vessel.
Eventually, however, Kur was overpowered and slain by Enki.
This story serves as the prologue to the “Epic of Gilgamesh,” which is known today as the
oldest epic tale in the world.
The Akkadian version of this tale dates back to somewhere between 1300 and 1000 BC.
The story of Kur was important in Sumerian culture.
The myths of later groups, including the Babylonians and that Akkadians, were also influenced by
this tale.
1.
TYPHON
The mightiest and deadliest monster of Greek mythology was Typhon, who was created by his
parents Gaia and Tartarus as a last-ditch effort to repel Olympian gods from defeating
the Titans.
Gaia also wanted to punish Zeus for imprisoning her Titan children.
Typhon never slept and was nicknamed the “father of all monsters” - understandably so!
Of all creatures that ever lived, he was the most grotesque and the largest.
His head often brushed against the stars and he towered over the mountains.
Typhon’s torso took human form.
Instead of having legs, his bottom half was made of huge snake coils.
His body was covered in feathers and his 100 heads sprouted from his shoulders.
The gods were so terrified of Typhon, they fled to Egypt and slipped into obscurity by
disguising themselves in the wild.
Typhon even defeated Zeus, severing several muscles from his hands and feet.
Eventually, Zeus got his muscles back, thanks to Hermes, and Typhon was trapped underneath
Mount Etna.
Legend has it that the volcano’s flames and steam are created by him.
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