- Nebuchadnezzar's Dragon
- Nehebkau
- Nidhogg / Niddhogg / Nydhogg / Nidhoggr
- Nine-headed Dragon
- Footnotes
Type/Species: Drake
Origin: Babylonian History
History: As the Book of Bel and the Dragon says, Nebuchadnezzar, a ruler, kept a dragon in the temple of the god Bel. The dragon was worshipped there. Daniel, the Hebrew prophet, began denouncing idols, and Nebuchadnezzar told him of the dragon. The ruler argued that the dragon was real and that, since the dragon was real, Daniel must worship the dragon.
Sadly for the dragon, Daniel killed it. He then asked the people why the worshipped such a being. Never the less, the way the dragon is described, like a wurm or a drake, makes it sound very, very real.
Symbolism: To Jews, the dragon was a symbol of an idol which was destroyed by Yahweh through Daniel. On the other hand, one may look at this dragon and see the dying of the "old ways" of Babylon.
Physical Description: Babylonian dragons are described with long, slender bodies and tails that are covered in scales. Their heads are serpent-liked, and they have a forked tounge. Around their heads, there are flaps of skin, and they have horns on top of their heads.
Origin: Egypt
History: Nehebkau has a rather strange genealogy, as some myths claim he is the son of Geb and others claim he is the son of Serket. He, however, was tamed by Ra and even rode with him in the Boat of the Sun.
Nehebkau's name means 'He who harnesses the spirits'. He was somewhat of a menace to the gods and to man, but Ra, as I have said, tamed him somewhat. He provided meals for the dead, too. He is said to be immune to both water and fire as well as some other magics.
Nehebkau was a huge serpent-dragon with human arms and legs. Most of the body was depicted as snake-like, as it was his job to protect against snake's and scorpian's poisoins. Among his other occupations was protecting the Pharoah in the afterlife. It is also said that this dragon guarded the Underworld.
Symbolism: Nehebkau was a symbol of change, and he showed how Ra could help anyone who needed it.
Physical Description: He had four legs and a long, slender body. He was much like a snake, as he had to protect against them.
Origin: Scandinavian/Germanic Mythology/Norse mythology
History: Nidhogg is said to be the dragon that lives in the underworld Niflheim in Norse mythology. The name itself translates into things like "dread biter" and "striking full of hatred."3
Nidhogg lives by the root of Yggdrasill the World Ash, in the pit Hvergelmer. There he feeds on the dead bodies at Hvergelmir, or the bubbling cauldron, the spring in the Niflheim which is also the source of the rivers of the world. 4
Should the Nidhogg not be feeding, he has several other tasks that he performs throughout the year. The first is gnawing at the root of the Yggrasill, and thereby joins with four stags called Duneyr, Durathor, Dvalinn, and Dainn, whom all graze on the tree from above. He also takes the time to send taunting messages to the eagle that proudly perches herself at the top of it. For this task, he uses the squirrel Ratatosk, and, in turn, the eagle sends Ratatosk to taunt Nidhogg.5
When the Ragnarok takes place it is said that the dragon will rise and take the dead with him in order to join the battle. The dragon will live through the battle and help lead the new order. 6
Symbolism: Unlike many other mythologic creatures, the Nidhogg does not seem to be evil or good. It is said that he sits at the bottom of the tree attempting to destroy the universe, and some other suggestions include that the dragon would be the evil side of the new order. However, the suggestion may be based upon other mythologies and religion and thus be false.
Physical Description: Again, unlike other dragons, the description is unclear.
Origin: Lithuanian Folklore
History: There were once nine brothers, who had a sister. These brothers were forced to ride off to war, leaving their sister with their stepmother, who was, unbeknownst to them, a witch. Having no love for the nine brothers nor the sister, she plotted to rid herself of the young girl. She knew that, deep in the forest, there was a nine-headed dragon. So, she ordered the girl to go into the forest and bring back word about her brothers at war.
And, as the girl was proceeding through the forest, the nine-headed dragon saw her. Quickly, he chased after her to get her. The sister, however, was quite smart and was able to climb an apple tree to keep out of reach of the dragon. The dragon was unwilling to leave, so he began to chew on the tree, attempting to get at the girl.
A bear passed by and saw the dragon, who was obviously tired. So, the bear asked just what the dragon was doing, and, when the dragon told him that he was attempting to get someone in the tree, the bear offered to help chew the tree so that the dragon could rest. The Nine-headed dragon, happily acccepting the offer, rested his head. The bear then began to run around the tree, singing.
With this, a cuckoo began to call the brothers, warning them that their sister was in danger. The witch, having followed her step daughter into the forest, tried to chase the cuckoo and silence it, but to no avail.
The ground began to tremble as the brothers rode towards the forest. The dragon was awakened by this and looked over to the tree, which had become three times as thick as it was before, thanks to the bear. The dragon, angry, chased the bear away and again began to gnaw at the tree. However, a fox came by, and made the same offer to this dragon. The dragon was wary, for the bear had tricked him, but the fox said he would not do the same thing as the bear. So, the dragon rested, and the fox ran around the tree.
However, the rumbling had bothered the dragon, and he wondered what it could be. Finally, the brothers of the girl appeared and cut off all of the dragon's heads. They rescued their sister, and tied their witch step-mother up and burned her.
Symbolism: Unknown
Physical Description: The nine-headed dragon had, obviously, nine heads. However, little description was given about the dragon.
- Mushhushshu (Sirrush): The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate
- Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
- Giants, Monsters & Dragons by Carol Rose
- History of Dragons
- The Norse Myths by Crossley-Holland
- The Norse Myths by Crossley-Holland
- Lithuanian Folk Tales by Stepas Zobarskas
For more information about these footnotes, please see the bibliography.
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© Kylie 'drago' McCormick.
Last updated: 6 August 2008