Why was the front of a viking warship carved as a dragon?
553606
To scare sea monsters.
1071385
I think they were killed in the flood, but have you ever read (I think) in Job about the leviathan?  Sounds so much like a brontesaurus or dipladucas doesn't it?  People try to say it's a croc, but it's  nothing like a crocodile.  Also Psalms 74 says He lopped off the heads (plural) of leviathan, and made mincemeat of the dragon.  I'm not trying to make people believe anything, it's just one of the things I wonder.
1151654
Just like any other mythology and fantasy, there are certain truths to which what we hear in common are real or not. Dragons do not exist, have not existed, and will not exist. They merely were imaginative characterizations of creatures such as dinosaurs. They exist in stories only because of the fact that they resemble something for certain people. That is to say, dragons are mere symbolisms. \n\nThe thing about China and England is that they differ in location and culture, and perhaps much, much more. China's symbolism of the dragon means it portrays fortune, wealth, prosperity and luck. That's why they're usually red. (In Chinese, red symbolizes prosperity). \nIn England, dragons are gray because, there, they symbolize monstrosity or weirdness. English myths and stories used the dragon in the Medieval times as something evil. Something to fear. And so therefore, knights in shining armors had to slay the dragon.\n\nSo, even though Chinese think of the dragon as something good, the British on the other hand think of the dragon as something dangerous. The dragons merely existed in tales and fictional literature; scientifically, there had been no evidence whatsoever of remnants of dragons. ok? get it?
399112
The word "Gargoyle"  shares a common root with the word "Gargle"; which comes from "gargouille", an French word for "Throat". A true gargoyle is a waterspout. The word “gargoyle” is also a derivative from the Latin word, “gurgulio”, which had a double meaning, “throat”, and the “gurgling” sound water makes as it passes through a gargoyle. A carved creature that does not serve the purpose of a drain pipe is frequently referred to as a "Grotesque".   legend has it, that a fierce dragon named La Gargouille described as having a long, reptilian neck, a slender snout and membranous wings lived in a cave near the river Seine. The dragon caused much fear and destruction with its fiery breath, spouting water and the devouring of ships and men. Each year, the residents of Rouen would placate Gargouille with an offering of a victim, usually a criminal, though it was said the dragon preferred maidens. Around 600, the village was saved by St. Romanis, who promised to deal with the dragon if the townspeople agreed to be baptized and to build a church. Romanus subdued the dragon by making the sign of the cross and then led the now docile beast back to town on a leash made from his priest's robe. La Gargouille was then burned at the stake, it is said that his head and neck were so well tempered by the heat of his fiery breath, that they would not burn. These remnants were then mounted on the town wall and became the model for gargoyles for centuries to come.
54885
The Mighty Salt Dragon of the South.  This beast was created by the mischievous god Loki many thousands of years ago.  Normally it rests in a fitful sleep at the bottom of the sea, but whenever a boat bumps its back, it vomits out great gouts of salty sea spray, raising the salinity of the worlds oceans.  It wishes to fly to the heavens and become a good fairy dragon, but this cannot occur until the time of Ragnorok.
364747
My home dictionary gives the origin as coming from the Latin word "historia".   The dictionary goes on to say, "probably from pictures adorning the windows of medieval buildings."\n\nThis makes me think of old European churches and castles, where 30-foot cathedrals would have stained glass picture windows of history or Biblical reference that told the complete story in a single picture.  Perhaps one story would sit on top of another on top of another, giving you different levels of stories.  Of course, what I'm saying now is just guessing, but I would consider it a well-educated guess.
1032670
they were the beasts of burden in the desert.  They were used to carry people and stuff long distances.  Just like....ships!!!!
798354
They had a homemade wooden leg with just a stick at the end so they could walk....If your wondering why they lost the legs, lots of pirates were old soldiers, sailors with war wounds..Lots of Pirates grew up on ships and would have more of a chance geting attaced by sharks thus loosing legs and arms...Improperly loaded cannons blowing up etc. etc..They also fought with swords in them days and and deep cuts or infections the limb was cut off to save life...
253976
It dates back as far as the bronze age and was originally used for hunting and skinning.  It became part of everyday dress, because it dates from a time when people had minimal posessions and therefore kept the most precious ones on them at all times.  Worked metal - such as a dirk - in the bronze age would qualify as such.  Additionally, in a time when people were primarily occupied with finding sustenance it would make sense to keep a hunting knife on your person at all times so you'd be ready whenever you'd happen to come across prey.  \n\nThe modern dirk, which is of a more military purpose, was developed in the early medieval period.  It was designed to be able to punch through metal plate armour and stab someone in their vital abdominal organs, and for this reason is also sometimes called a punching dagger or a kidney dagger.\n\nEven after its primary purpose shifted, the dirk frequently did double-duty as both a hunting and martial tool as the common person likely couldn't afford a variety of special knives.  Even if they could, it would be terribly inconvenient to carry more than you absolutely had to when living on a battlefield.
7495
Actually, no one really knows who the first boat was made by but here's some useful info about it.\n\nhttp://www.ancientworlds.net/23986
1047919
Herman Melville refers to Leviathan as a monstrous whale in Moby-Dick. I think most biblical references connote monstrous fish. I think dragons are from the Asian and European cultures, wrong time period, wrong culture. Dinosaurs were not known to exist either, wrong time period. I think whales would have been the most monstrous and prolific of all sea creatures during the time period.
270813
they wore gold bangles very much simillar to the ones we wear today. there's this brand that makes viking jewellery but i can't remember what it's called. sorry
119526
I would think that the nearest thing we have to actual dragons might be crocks and gators. There is also the Komoto dragon,which is huge enough to eat humans too. I can't say that a dragon is a total myth. The Bible refers to satan as not just a serpent in tbe garden; but as a dragon. Job has the best description of all. Start with Job 41:1 and read through to 41:34 for a description of a dragon. Real or myth? You must decide.  Job 41:18-21  18.By his neecing  "sneezing" (see Websters) a light doth shine and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning (A red sunrise?). 19.Out of his mouth go burning lamps and sparks of fire leap out. 20.Out of his nostrils goeth smoke as out of a great seething pot or cauldron. 21. His breath kindleth coals and a flame goeth out of his mouth.   Sound familiar?  Also read Neh.2:12 about "dragon well." Isiah27:1  "the serpent, the dragon of the sea."  Rev. 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in the heavens; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads, ten horns and seven crowns upon hid head.  Rev. 12:9 and Rev.20  =========================================================  Unicorn is mentioned 6 times in the Bible.  Numbers 23:22  Numbers 24:8; Job 39:9  Job 39:10; Psalms 29:6 and Psalms 92:10 where the horn of the unicorn is mentioned. I cannot make up your mind or the minds of others who may read this, but it Is in the Bible, in black and white. ============================================================And tho it does not say computer/telephone/cable tv/ or satalite tv. It does speak about it's being in existance in the last days.  And I quote:  Rev. 11:8 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations (the whole earth) shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies be put in graves. (At the end of this time of 3 and 1/2 days these dead prophets will stand up alive and well again and the whole world will see).  Cars?  Nahum 2:4 The chariots (cars) shall rage(speeding/road rage?)in the streets. they shall justle ( bump/wreck or crash) one against another in the broadways (streets/interstates?)they shall seem like tourches (headlights on after dark?), they shall run like the lightenings (any thing that can or could run faster than the fastest horse drawn chariots of the day, would appear to run...Like lightening...right?)=========================================================== Now, I will not demand you believe, but it sounds as if someone knew about the future (back in the day....) Maybe you should also check out John the Relelators description of a  trip God took him on into todays time. And he watched wars and many other things he had not words for. I'll let those wanting to know about it look in  the  sources below.
349939
Here's all you need:\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vikings
93531
It's a viking legend from a very long time ago. You can read it in the Poetic Edda or the Prose Edda (both are Viking collections of myths, legends and other stories) or the Volsunga saga (I think that might just be part of the Prose Edda but I'm not sure).\n\nSome versions are different from others but the basic plotline is that Siegfried (called Sigurd in some versions) is the son of Sieglinda and Siegmund (who were siblings but didn't know it). Siegmund dies in a swordfight against Sieglinda's husband before Siegfried is born and Sieglinda runs off into the forest to escape her husband who is incredibly pissed (he also doesn't know the two were siblings). Siegfried is born shortly after, Sieglinda dies after a few days and Siegfried is raised by this dwarf guy Regin (called Mime in some works). Regin is a blacksmith and teaches Siegfried how to make swords and stuff like that. Eventually, Siegfried reforges his father's sword (which was originally a gift from the god Odin) and uses it (at Regin's request) to kill a dragon who guards a masive treasure hoard. Siegfried gets covered in the dragon's blood, which makes him invincible. Regin then cooks the dragon's heart, intending to eat it and make himself able to understand what the birds are saying but Siegfried eats part of it and the birds tell him that Regin intends to kill him and take the treasure for himself, including a magic ring that drops piece on gold every night, thus making the owner incredibly wealthy and a magic helmet that makes the wearer look however he wants or be invisible. Siegfried kills Regin and then the birds lead him to a beautifull princess named Brunhilda who is sleeping inside a ring of enchanted fire. He walks through the fire, kisses the princess and she wakes up and they live happily ever after.\nAt least untill he introduces Brunhilda to his friend Gunther. Gunther falls in love with Brunhilda and soon after, Gunther's sister, Gudrune, falls in love with Siegfried and mixes a love potion into his drink one night. Brunhilda is still in love with Siegfried but marries Gunther by defaulft after Siegfried weds Gudrune.\nAt this point it looks like everyone should live happily ever after. But Brunhilda is very pissed at Siegfried for not marrying her and bribes Hagen (Gunther and Gudrune's half-brother and not a very reputable man) to assassinate Siegfried and make it look like an accident. On their next hunting trip, Hagen sticks a spear in the one spot on Siegfried's back that the dragon blood missed.
456522
Odin had to slay the ice giant Ymir. I forget why, but Im sure the reasoning was Cosmic. Oh, yeah, Odin was an Anscestor, so the 'Odin' was the diety that Odin eclipsed. Ymir's body got broken up and various pieces become the earth, heavens, underworld, and Starbucks. Maggots formed from the flesh. This was back in the days of spontaneous generation. Odin turned the maggots into the humans of today. The humans flourished, created civilization and all that stuff. Eventually Ragnarok came along. All the gods were engaged in a war of Good vs. Evil. Their battle was long and very violent. All of the gods were killed in the battle and all life on earth was reduced to two humans who took shelter in a hollow tree. (Hail Holde). Talk about bottle-necks!\nPoop.\nI can prove it because it was written in a Holy Book, and that makes it proof, right?
407201
From the Old Norse beserkr (bearskin).  Warriors who worshipped Odin, famous for their forocity in battle.  Their animal-skin battle attire contributed to the develpment of the werewolf legend.