Tradition: Swiss Mythology
Alternative Names: Dragons of Pilatus
Category: Dragon
The Myth
The dragons of Mount Pilatus were fiery supernatural creatures that appeared around the dark, cloud-covered mountain above Lucerne. They were said to fly through the night sky in great numbers, glowing like fire as they crossed over Lake Lucerne toward the Rigi and Bürgenstock. At times there were so many of them that their fiery bodies seemed to form burning bridges between the mountains. The Bürgenstock was said to be especially full of dragons, nesting within the split mountain that was believed to be held together by a golden chain.
The dragons belonged to the strange and supernatural world surrounding Mount Pilatus, where the spirit of Pontius Pilate was believed to dwell in a small mountain lake. Pilatus had been thrown into the lake after his corpse had caused storms and sickness wherever it was buried. A wandering scholar from the underground school of Salamanca eventually bound his restless spirit there until Judgment Day.
Even after Pilatus had been imprisoned, the mountain remained a place of dreadful weather and supernatural activity. His spirit could disturb the waters of the lake, send storms across the mountains, and appear in frightening forms. Around the mountain, strange creatures were sometimes seen by shepherds, including a wild horse, a huge dog, or a ghostly calf.
The fiery dragons were among the most spectacular signs of the mountain’s supernatural nature. When night fell over Lucerne, people could look toward Pilatus and see the creatures emerging from its clouds and flying across the lake. Their burning forms illuminated the darkness as they travelled toward the neighbouring mountains, making the entire sky appear crossed by fiery paths.
The people of Lucerne also watched the clouds around Pilatus to predict the weather. When the mountain wore a cap of cloud, storms were expected, while other shapes were taken as signs of rain or fair weather. Thus the mysterious mountain, its dragons, and its dark waters became part of the everyday lore of the people living beneath Pilatus.
Sources
Lienert, Meinrad. “Die Pilatussage.” In Schweizer Sagen und Heldengeschichten. Stuttgart, 1915. Reproduced by SAGEN.at. https://www.sagen.at/texte/sagen/schweiz/allgemein/pilatussage.html