Western dragon
Winged, treasure-hoarding beast
A Western dragon is the dragon of European mythology and fantasy—a large, winged, fire-breathing reptile that typically hoards treasure and menaces villages until slain by a hero.
Unlike the benevolent serpentine dragons of East Asian tradition, Western dragons are usually malevolent creatures to be conquered: The knight set out to slay the Western dragon terrorizing the kingdom.
The archetype appears throughout medieval legend and modern fantasy, from Beowulf to Tolkien's Smaug.
- fireCombustion with flames
- fire breathingExpelling combustion from mouth
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- wingsLimbs for flight
- treasureValued wealth or keepsake
winged beast · hoard · knight · slayer · St. George · lair · cave · serpent · claws · fangs · breath · medieval · castle · maiden · damsel in distress · fairy tale · gold · gold hoard
Western dragonEastern dragon
Asian serpentine divine creature
Chinese dragon · Ryu · celestial dragon · feathered serpent · Quetzalcoatl
western, dragon, west, westerly, westward, westernmost, dragons, dragonfly, dragoon