A dragon may have one or more heads, normally hatches from eggs, and may be extremely ferocious and powerful. This article is about the mythical creature called dragon. Whether you see them as ancient enemies or noble protectors, dragons will always be creatures of mystery and magic—beasts whose stories remind us of the immense power that lies within the myths we create. From the ancient deserts of Mesopotamia to the bustling streets of modern cities, dragons remain one of the most powerful symbols in human mythology. Dragons, whether seen as villains or protectors, possess a wide array of powers that make them formidable creatures.
To this day, Vietnamese people often describe themselves as «Children of the dragon, grandchildren of the fairy» (Con rồng cháu tiên). In the creation myth of the Vietnamese people, they are descended from the dragon lord Lạc Long Quân and the fairy Âu Cơ, who bore 100 eggs. A story about the samurai Minamoto no Mitsunaka tells that, while he was hunting in his own territory of Settsu, he dreamt under a tree and had a dream in which a beautiful woman appeared to him and begged him to save her land from a giant serpent which was defiling it. Japanese dragon myths amalgamate native legends with imported stories about dragons from China.
A famous image of the dragon gnawing on its tail from the eleventh-century Codex Marcianus was copied in numerous works on alchemy. In medieval alchemy, the ouroboros became a typical western dragon with wings, legs, and a tail. The Greek word δράκων is most likely derived from the Greek verb δέρκομαι dragon train pokie (dérkomai) meaning «I see», the aorist form of which is ἔδρακον (édrakon). In East Asia, dragons were usually regarded as positive beings; Chinese dragons were thought to govern the rain, the sea, and other forms of water, and from the Han dynasty onwards they were emblems of imperial power. In nearly all cultures, it is conceived of as a powerful and awe-inspiring creature.