333 images (+111)

St George and the Dragon, Paolo Ucello, 1470 In Tolkein’s famous essay on Beowulf, he mentions that there are not very many dragons in European mythology, really.  This is a bit funny, since Tolkein’s own Smaug would eventually become one of centerpieces of a whole genre based on emulating Tolkein’s aesthetic. But he was right: before Smaug, there was St. George’s dragon (actually in Libya), and Fafnir, and Beowulf’s dragon.  That’s pretty much it. Above, George is about to rescue Sabra.  Like most damsels in distress, Sabra has to marry whatever schmuck shows up to rescue her, even though in the original legend, she’s basically the one who saves the day, using the magic-virginity powers of her girdle…..?….?  (That’s what she’s leashing him with). And the poor dragon was only trying to sell astroturf.

St George and the Dragon, Paolo Ucello, 1470

In Tolkein’s famous essay on Beowulf, he mentions that there are not very many dragons in European mythology, really.  This is a bit funny, since Tolkein’s own Smaug would eventually become one of centerpieces of a whole genre based on emulating Tolkein’s aesthetic.

But he was right: before Smaug, there was St. George’s dragon (actually in Libya), and Fafnir, and Beowulf’s dragon.  That’s pretty much it.

Above, George is about to rescue Sabra.  Like most damsels in distress, Sabra has to marry whatever schmuck shows up to rescue her, even though in the original legend, she’s basically the one who saves the day, using the magic-virginity powers of her girdle…..?….?  (That’s what she’s leashing him with).

And the poor dragon was only trying to sell astroturf.

9 November 2011 • 1400s oil painting dragons religion blood weapons lance knight horse female sub animal peril leash