Tradition: Austrian Mythology
Alternative Names: Griffen Lindworm
Category: Dragon
The Myth
A terrible Lindworm once lived near Griffen, where it became a menace to both people and livestock. Since neither humans nor animals were safe from the monster, the inhabitants devised a plan to destroy it.
A farmhand was ordered to drive a team of oxen directly toward the Lindworm’s lair. A wagon loaded with hay was placed behind them, but hidden within the hay were gunpowder and a long fuse. The dragon seized the bait, pulling the oxen, the farmhand, and the wagon toward its lair before devouring them all.
At the right moment, a brave man ignited the fuse. The concealed gunpowder exploded inside the dragon, tearing the Lindworm apart.
For a long time afterward, the monster’s enormous skeleton could still be seen. The farmhand who had been sacrificed in the plan was not forgotten, and the people of Griffen prayed for him for many years.
Sources
“Der gesprengte Lindwurm.” SAGEN.at – Traditionelle Sagen aus Österreich (Kärnten). Reproduced by SAGEN.at.
https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/oesterreich/kaernten/allgemein/dergesprengtelindwurm.html