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Where are there dragon legends?

In most areas of the world there are legends about dragons. In some places the dragons are snake-like In others they are winged. Some live in the sea, others live on land. Some live in the mountains, others live in swamps, or come when called. Some of the dragons are good, others are evil and feared. Some are killed on sight, others are welcomed.

In North America many of the dragons are dangerous and feared. An exception to this rule is Kolowisi who supposedly saved a family by holding back flood waters in a Zuni tale. Another tale from the Hopi tells of the dragon Palulukon, who held the earth on its back in the cosmic sea.

The South American dragons are dangerous, but many also donate their blood or lives to help humans. Chac, a Mayan dragon, required sacrifices, but he would also shed his own blood to produce rain. Iemisch was a dragon from Patagonia. Iemisch was wise and had the foreparts of a fox. It used its serpent's tail to ensnare victims. It would crush and then eat its victims.

When people think of dragons they usually think of the European dragons with their wings and habit of capturing princesses. A common tale is that of Knucker, a British dragon, who was a pain to a king who wanted to rid himself of the dragon. He offered his daughter to whoever would kill the dragon. A knight killed the dragon and in return was offered the princess. Another tale, this one from France, was called Gargouille which means gurgler. He emerged from the Seine and spewed water over the countryside and created a tidal wave. Whoever the waves did not kill the dragon ate.

Little known are the African dragons. Bida was a Soninike legend who in exchange for maidens made it rain gold three times a year. Finally a man in love with the maiden chopped off the head of the dragon. The dragon with its last breath called out a curse that meant the gold would not rain three times a year for seven years, seven months, and seven days.

In eastern Asia there were dragon kings. The dragon kings were responsible for a region. The kings were beautiful, powerful, and wise. They were not all powerful, and they had to answer to the gods and the gods' messengers. Some which lived in the water lived in crystal castles and had armies of servants. The Chinese dragons were unlike the European dragons and did not have wings and were long scaled snakes with horned and expressive faces.

The dragons of Oceania are most commonly found as large serpents or lizards.  Hotu-puku is a huge lizard that ate men traveling between Rotorua and Taupo.  Thinking that their neighbors were the problem, a war band set out.  The war band came upon Hotu-puku, who attacked them.  Many warriors were killed and the rest fled.  A dragon hunter named Pitaka arrived and he organized a party to hunt the dragon.  Using himself as bait, he managed to get a noose around the tail of the dragon.  Then a net was put over the dragon, who then starved to death.

Sources and for more information: http://www.blackdrago.com/index.html