What mythological dragons eat the world?
April 6, 2010 6:26 PM Subscribe
Looking for mythology/folklore concerning world-eating dragons.
I had an idea for a piece of art involving a dragon encircling and then devouring the world. It feels like something very primal, so I'm sure I picked it up somewhere--but I'm not sure where. Níðhöggr seems similar, but seems to be an eat-from-the-inside-out kind of thing rather than surrounding and engulfing.
Any other traditional stories about dragons or other monsters who eat the world (or potentially the sun, moon, etc)?
I had an idea for a piece of art involving a dragon encircling and then devouring the world. It feels like something very primal, so I'm sure I picked it up somewhere--but I'm not sure where. Níðhöggr seems similar, but seems to be an eat-from-the-inside-out kind of thing rather than surrounding and engulfing.
Any other traditional stories about dragons or other monsters who eat the world (or potentially the sun, moon, etc)?
"the Large Hadron Collider might make dragons that might eat us up."
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 8:09 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by BusyBusyBusy at 8:09 PM on April 6, 2010
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.
I may be an atheist, but I have to admit the Book of Revelation pretty much rocks.
posted by ecurtz at 10:20 PM on April 6, 2010
And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth.
I may be an atheist, but I have to admit the Book of Revelation pretty much rocks.
posted by ecurtz at 10:20 PM on April 6, 2010
Well, I was coming in to suggest that the dragon often seen on Chinese food plates eats the flaming pearl of the sun, because that's what mom said it was, but apparently the google-fus has all sorts of other ideas about pearls of wisdom and dragons starting out as fish and what-not, so I got nothin. :(
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 10:35 PM on April 6, 2010
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 10:35 PM on April 6, 2010
Best answer: Are you thinking of the Midgard Serpent (Jörmungandr)? It grew until it surrounded the earth, and holds it's own tail; when it lets go, the world will end.
posted by rodgerd at 2:22 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by rodgerd at 2:22 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: the image of the Ouroboros, a serpent or dragon eating it's own tail, is meant to symbolize both the creation & destruction of the world
posted by jammy at 5:25 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by jammy at 5:25 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
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While he is not a dragon, he is an entity that consumes worlds.
posted by Mr. X at 6:33 PM on April 6, 2010