Stooby
Young Dragon
Posts: 232
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Post by Stooby on Jun 21, 2007 12:55:29 GMT
I haven't spent too much time on this, but what I've found might help you with your research, Lex. (or you might say 'well, I knew that already!')  One theory is that the Mercian dragon was influenced by the Sarmatian Cavalry that were posted in Britain by the Romans. These guys were among the most feared cavalry in the world, and by all accounts their banners were pretty intimidating too. Imagine a wind sock, made of brightly coloured silks, and put a 3D bronze or gold dragon head at the front of it. Now put some strategically positioned reeds, so that the rushing wind through the dragon creates a roaring sound. |
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Post by gleep on Jun 21, 2007 13:20:56 GMT
I always thought that the knights were called Mercian Knights and that the dragon in the story was called Morgawr.. But what do I know  |
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Stooby
Young Dragon
Posts: 232
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Post by Stooby on Jun 21, 2007 13:40:16 GMT
surely the Mercian Knights would have come from Mercia.
I am talking about where the influence for the Mercian dragon came from.
In the year 175, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius sent 5500 Sarmatian cavalry to Britain.
From what I've read, some people think that these warriors brought with them what was to be the major influence behind the white Mercian dragon.
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Post by gleep on Jun 21, 2007 14:15:18 GMT
During my research on this subject the names Hengest and Horsa keep cropping up. I'm aware that these 2 together with their saxon, Angle and Juttish followers are traditionally known as the founders of England. The white dragon was their emblem. What I cant figure out is the origin of the White Dragon Flag..
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Post by Lex on Jun 21, 2007 14:29:19 GMT
If you want to go that far back in time then the white dragon was almost certainly taken from the Celts. The british Celts had many a dragon symbol and the saxons took those symbols.
Due to the Celts being unable to write (or read) its impossible to locate the exact origins of the dragon.
But if you choose to go back further in time then the following possibly occured.
The Celts moved from the east towards the british isles.
With them they may have carried stories of the dragons from Egypt and Babylon such as Aapep and Tiamat.
My point is, locating where dragons originate always begs more questions.
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Haydena
Young Dragon
Pegasus forever!
Posts: 168
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Post by Haydena on Jun 21, 2007 14:44:20 GMT
Google can tell you a lot eh guys? Good stuff though, I'll try and dig some stuff up as well. |
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Post by gleep on Jun 21, 2007 14:56:06 GMT
Whos this Mr Google Character....
I shall ask my libarian this question tonight!
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Stooby
Young Dragon
Posts: 232
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Post by Stooby on Jun 21, 2007 15:39:26 GMT
During my research on this subject the names Hengest and Horsa keep cropping up. I'm aware that these 2 together with their saxon, Angle and Juttish followers are traditionally known as the founders of England. The white dragon was their emblem. What I cant figure out is the origin of the White Dragon Flag.. As I said, the Sarmatians came here in 175 Hengest and Horsa were ruling in the mid to late 400s So it's quite plausible that the dragons brought over by the Sarmatians helped influence any dragon related myths in future generations |
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Post by gleep on Jun 21, 2007 15:49:01 GMT
So its feasable that the Mercian Dragon in question is in fact the white dragon flag. Which goes back to my original post . The story goes that a Mercian knight named Jareen hunted down and slayed A dragon known as the Morgawr who was terrorising the villagers. |
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Haydena
Young Dragon
Pegasus forever!
Posts: 168
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Post by Haydena on Jun 21, 2007 16:07:44 GMT
Can I just say? You guys have WAAY to much free time on your hands. I can't be bothered to find stuff on this, I'll let you find it all out and read it and see if I can actually piece together these random facts that you keep posting. For now it really doesn't make such sense, looks like it's been copied and pasted or something  . |
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Post by gleep on Jun 21, 2007 16:12:41 GMT
and this comes from the guy with 90 + posts in 3 days!  |
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Stooby
Young Dragon
Posts: 232
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Post by Stooby on Jun 21, 2007 16:14:11 GMT
and this comes from the guy with 90 + posts in 3 days! touché gleep ;D |
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Haydena
Young Dragon
Pegasus forever!
Posts: 168
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Post by Haydena on Jun 21, 2007 16:17:21 GMT
and this comes from the guy with 90 + posts in 3 days! If you're getting specific it's 90+ posts in 4 days . Anyway, what did that comment have to do with dragons? Touché indeed! |
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Post by Lex on Jun 21, 2007 19:43:57 GMT
Oh Haydena, let the guys pretend they know what they are talking about.
They are having fun
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Haydena
Young Dragon
Pegasus forever!
Posts: 168
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Post by Haydena on Jun 22, 2007 20:42:45 GMT
Oh I will don't worry, it's quite interesting what they're finding out anyway, so they can keep doing it. And I just thought you'd like to know, but the mercians actually went into battle with a golden dragon, not a white one on their banners.  |
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