Analysis—So What?

So, from all that has been discussed, dragons seem to be scaly creatures that may or may not have wings that test nobility, or just people in general, and reveal noble souls. The dragon, then, is an especially important motif in this culture, and in general, in signifying greatness to a reader, not only as stepping stone but representative of the divine right to rule.

In the tale about Sekandar, the dragon appears to be some evil that must be purged to save the city, much like in the case of Saint George. However, the dragon is more likely to be seen as a majestic and powerful creature during this period. So slaying such a foe garners admiration and the status of hero or some association with divinity or greatness. This is more evident in historical manuscripts and artworks from Iran, such as in the Folio "Isfandiyar's Third Course: He Slays a Dragon." Here we see a hero, like Sekandar battling a great foe on the path to his greatness as ruler. In both cases, the dragon is not evil but simply powerful and an obstacle.

Dragons in this period all share some likeness to Chinese dragons. In China, the dragon was a beneficial and royal creature associated with reverence and power, as shown by the Pagoda base. In Europe, however, the dragon did not have such close ties with good grace or royalty. Instead, dragons were purely evil with no semblance of good faith, which is why they are always depicted as the losers when battling the heroes, saints, and angels. A differentiating feature of European dragons, however, is that they often terrorize cities and people, such as in the story of Saint George and Beowulf. Such is similar to the story of Sekandars encounter with a dragon, in which dietary tribute was offered, but the evil aspect was left out.

The dragon is a fundamental motif in this culture in signifying greatness to a reader. That is why every artwork is grand and epic, with vivid and ferocious depictions. The author wishes one to feel that these heroes are great. The dragon is one way in which they emphasize this detail, whether good or evil, defeated or revered. In China, instead of defeating the creature to achieve such, the dragon is embroidered on royal clothing, represented on ships, and associated with royalty in general. An image depicting ships in the form of dragons is provided in the gallery. In Europe, the dragon is often utilized to show greatness, as with Saint George, or negligence, as with Beowulf.