Tradition: Swiss Mythology
Alternative Names: The Dragons of the Faßbinder
Category: Dragon
The Myth
The dragons were two enormous and hideous creatures that lived deep beneath the mountains of Lucerne, inside great caves hidden at the bottom of a deep, muddy pit. They were among the dragons and worms believed to have inhabited the Swiss mountains in ancient times, creatures that could sometimes descend violently into the valleys and bring destruction with them.
In the year 1420, according to the church records, a cooper from Lucerne went into the wilderness searching for wood with which to make his barrels. He became lost in the lonely mountains after nightfall and suddenly fell into a deep pit, sinking down as though into a muddy well. At the bottom he discovered entrances leading into two enormous caves.
When he went closer to investigate, two dreadful dragons emerged from the caves. Terrified, the man prayed fervently, but the dragons did not attack him. Instead, they repeatedly wrapped their enormous bodies around him without harming him.
The unfortunate cooper remained trapped with the dragons from November 6 until April 10. He survived by feeding upon the same salty moisture that sustained the dragons, which seeped from the walls of the caves.
When winter finally ended, the dragons sensed that spring had arrived and prepared to leave their underground dwelling. One of them suddenly flew out with a tremendous rushing sound. As the second dragon prepared to follow, the cooper seized its tail and held on tightly. The dragon carried him up and out of the deep pit.
Once they reached the surface, the man released his grip and escaped. He returned safely to Lucerne, having survived months underground in the company of the two dragons.
To preserve the strange event, he had the entire story embroidered onto a priestly vestment. The embroidered account was said to remain visible in the Church of Saint Leodegar in Lucerne.
Sources
“Der Drache fährt aus.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Deutschland. Reproduced by SAGEN.at.
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/grimm/derdrachefaehrtaus.html