Mythology!

Bukumir Dragon

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Tradition: Montenegrin Mythology
Alternative Names: Lake Dragon of the Bukumirs
Category: Dragon

The Myth

A great dragon once lived in a lake near the lands of the Bukumirs, a nomadic people who lived in the surrounding area. At night the creature would emerge from the water and frighten the Bukumirs, coming from the lake after darkness had fallen.

The Bukumirs eventually discovered a way to drive the monster away. They built a great fire beneath the rocks and heated enormous stones until they were burning hot. Then they hurled the blazing stones into the lake.

The dragon’s wings caught fire from the scorching stones. Unable to remain in the lake, the wounded creature fled, but before it disappeared it placed a curse upon the Bukumirs.

The curse brought disaster upon the people. The Bukumirs turned against one another and began fighting among themselves until they ultimately disappeared.

Sources

“Bukumirsko Lake – The Heart of the Kučka Krajina Mountains.” Montenegro-for.me. July 2013. https://montenegro-for.me/2013/07/bukumirsko-lake-the-heart-of-the-kucka-krajina-mountains/

Chiryū

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Tradition: Chinese mythology, Japanese mythology
Alternative Names: Chiryū, Chi Long, Chi, Ri, Amariyō, Amariyū, Rain Dragon, 螭龍
Category: Dragon

The Myth

The Chiryū is a type of dragon without horns. It is described as red, white, blue, or yellowish-blue in color, with a long, slender tail. Some Japanese descriptions compare it to a mizuchi, but without horns, while others say that it resembles a large lizard.

The Chiryū was known in Japan through Chinese writings and was identified with the Rain Dragon, a dragon associated with bringing rain, as well as with the mizuchi, a dragon-serpent associated with watersides. Its lack of horns was considered one of its defining characteristics.

Chinese descriptions distinguish the Chiryū from other kinds of dragons according to their physical features. Scaled dragons are called Jiaolong, winged dragons are Yinglong, horned dragons are Qiulong, while dragons without horns are Chiryū.

In Japan, the Chiryū became known by the name Amariyō or Amariyū, meaning Rain Dragon. It was described as belonging to the dragon family, without horns, with a long thin tail and a body sometimes compared to that of a large lizard.

Because of its lizard-like appearance and its characteristic lack of horns, foreign reptiles displayed in Japan were sometimes casually described as “children of the Chiryū.”

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “地竜 [ちりゅう] (Chiryū).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). October 21, 2024. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1082955065.html

Byōryū

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Tradition: Japanese mythology
Alternative Names: Byōryū, Sick Dragon, Disease Dragon
Category: Dragon

The Myth

The Byōryū is a dragon that has fallen ill. Its rain is said to have a foul smell, and unlike ordinary rain, it does not revive crops.

During the Jin dynasty, a prolonged drought struck Wei County. The people prayed to a dragon living inside a cave and asked it to bring rain. Rain soon began to fall, but the hermit Sun Deng recognized it as the rain of a sick dragon and warned that it would not restore the crops. When the people smelled the rainwater, they found that it was indeed foul-smelling.

The dragon living in the cave had a growth on its back. It took the form of an old man and approached Sun Deng, asking him to cure its illness. Sun Deng treated the dragon, and in gratitude the creature later brought rain once more. Before departing, it also dug a well and filled it with water.

Another tale tells of Ma Shihuang, a skilled veterinarian who lived during the time of the Yellow Emperor. A sick dragon came to him from the waves and asked to be treated. Ma Shihuang cured it with acupuncture and a decoction of licorice. Thereafter, whenever the dragon fell ill, it would emerge from the waves and return to Ma Shihuang for treatment. One morning, after being treated once again, the dragon carried Ma Shihuang away upon its back and disappeared.

Sources

Takahashi, Toshihiro. “病竜 [びょうりゅう] (Byōryū).” 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑 (New TYZ Yokai Encyclopedia). October 21, 2024. https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1082963220.html

Cathach

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Tradition: Irish Mythology
Alternative Names: Cathach, Cathach of Inis Cathaig
Category: Dragon

The Myth

Cathach was the youngest of three dragon sisters, Dabran, Farbagh, and Cathach. They were the offspring of the gatekeeper of Hell and an all-devouring sow, and were nursed by the red demon of West Ireland. Cathach made her home on Inis Cathaig, now known as Scattery Island.

Cathach was a monstrous sight, larger than a small island herself. Her enormous back was rounded like an island and covered in scales and shells, while a rough, bristling mane like that of a boar covered the front of her body. Her cavernous mouth contained two rows of sharp teeth, and when she opened it her entrails could be seen within. A cruel eye gleamed from her head. She stood upon two short, thick, hairy legs armed with iron nails that struck sparks from the rocks as she walked. Her belly burned like a furnace, while behind her dragged the tail of a whale, armed with iron claws that carved furrows into the earth. She could move across land and swim through the sea with equal ease, causing the water around her to boil.

Cathach’s sisters eventually met their deaths. Farbagh was slain by Crohan, Sal, and Daltheen, the three sons of Toraliv M’Stairn, while Dabran was killed by Diarmuid O’Duibhne after the three brothers had set her to guard their forts.

When Cathach sensed that her sisters were gone, she erupted into a terrible rage. She ravaged the lands around the Shannon Estuary, from Limerick to the sea, destroying the countryside, sinking ships, and bringing commerce to a standstill for an entire year. When Crohan, Sal, and Daltheen returned and saw the devastation Cathach had caused, they were so overcome with despair that they threw themselves into the sea and died.

Yet Cathach herself was not defeated by warriors or mighty champions. When Saint Senan landed on Inis Cathaig, the dragon prepared to devour him. Instead, the saint calmly made the sign of the cross before her face and commanded her in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost to leave the island and harm no one wherever she went.

Cathach fell silent and obeyed. She left Inis Cathaig, disappeared into the estuary, and travelled to Sliab Collain without harming another person. It was said that if she still lived, she remained obedient to Saint Senan’s command.

Sources

“Cathach.” A Book of Creatures. November 15, 2019. https://abookofcreatures.com/2019/11/15/cathach/

Brosno Dragon

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Tradition: Russian Mythology
Alternative Names: Brosnya, Бросня
Category: Dragon

The Myth

The Brosno Dragon, known as Brosnya, is a mysterious dragon-like creature said to dwell in the depths of Lake Brosno in western Russia. It is said to be an enormous lake monster, rarely seen and feared by those living around the lake.

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, people told of a gigantic creature that would rise from the depths in the evening. Whenever anyone approached the shore or came too close, it would immediately disappear beneath the water again.

The creature also became the subject of darker tales. During the Second World War, it was said that Brosnya rose from the lake and swallowed a German airplane whole.

Some believe the monster may still lurk beneath Lake Brosno, although its existence remains uncertain. Explanations for sightings have included ordinary animals such as beavers or an exceptionally large pike.

Sources

“Brosno dragon.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 20, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brosno_dragon

Bisterne Dragon

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Tradition: English Mythology
Alternative Names: Bisterne Dragon
Category: Dragon

The Myth

The Bisterne Dragon was a terrifying creature that made its lair at Burley Beacon, near Bisterne in the New Forest. From there it terrorized the surrounding countryside, preying upon both people and livestock. Each morning the dragon would fly from its den to Bisterne, where it was given milk.

A knight named Berkeley resolved to put an end to the beast. He built himself a small hiding place and waited with two dogs for the dragon to arrive. When the creature came for its milk, the dogs were unleashed and threw themselves upon it. The dragon fought back fiercely, killing both animals, but the attack gave the knight his opportunity. He sprang upon the distracted beast and engaged it in a desperate battle.

The struggle did not end quickly. The dragon and the knight fought their way through the forest until at last the creature was brought down near Lyndhurst. In the fight, however, the knight himself was left deeply shaken. The dragon was dead, but its slayer did not long survive his victory. After thirty days and thirty nights he returned to the place where the beast had fallen and died alone upon the hill.

His yew-wood bow fell beside his body. From it grew a yew tree, marking the place where the dragon’s killer met his own end.

The tale was also remembered with the name of Sir Maurice Berkeley, a man renowned for his strength and courage. The story tells that when the dragon had ravaged Hampshire and proved too dangerous for others to destroy, Maurice armed himself and went out to meet it. After a fierce encounter he succeeded in killing the beast, only to die himself soon afterward.

The dragon’s defeat also inspired stranger tales of how such a creature could be overcome. Its hide was said to be so formidable that ordinary weapons were useless, and in the telling that became popular around the New Forest, the knight covered his armour with glass so that the dragon could not harm him. Thus, through courage, cunning, and a long and bloody struggle, the creature that had terrorized the countryside was finally slain.

Sources

“Bisterne Dragon.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 20, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisterne_Dragon

Beast of the Charred Forests

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Tradition: Scottish Mythology
Alternative Names: Beast of the Charred Forests, Beast’s Stone Dragon
Category: Dragon

The Myth

The Beast of the Charred Forests was a terrifying and powerful dragon born from a fire that burned for seven years. It lived within fire and wandered across northern Scotland, breathing flames and burning the forests wherever it went.

Whenever people heard that the Beast was approaching, they abandoned their villages to escape its wrath. It could only be killed by a person who saw the Beast before the Beast saw them.

The Beast eventually came upon St. Gilbert’s Church in Dornoch. Before its arrival, Saint Gilbert had dug a hole and hidden himself so that he could see the monster before it noticed him. When the Beast approached, it roared, “Pity on you, Dornoch!”

Saint Gilbert emerged from his hiding place armed with a bow and arrows and repeated the Beast’s own words to it: “Pity on you, Dornoch!” The Beast prepared to breathe fire upon Dornoch, but before it could do so, Saint Gilbert fired his first arrow. The arrow pierced the Beast and killed it immediately.

The Beast was buried on the moor between Dornoch and Skibo, and a stone known as the Beast’s Stone was placed over its grave. The charred pine stumps found beneath the peat moss of Ross, Sutherland, and Reay were said to be evidence of the devastation caused by the Beast.

Sources

“Beast of the Charred Forests.” A Book of Creatures. January 22, 2021.
https://abookofcreatures.com/2021/01/22/beast-of-the-charred-forests/

Banyoles Monster

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Tradition: Catalan Mythology, Spanish Mythology
Alternative Names: Banyoles Monster, Banyoles Lake Monster
Category: Dragon

The Myth

The Banyoles Monster is a legendary creature said to live in the depths of Lake Banyoles in Girona, in northeastern Spain. It is possibly described as a dragon.

According to the legend, the monster has lived in the lake for hundreds of years. In the eighth century, a French monk named St. Emeterio approached the creature and used prayers to coax it out of the lake. Through his prayers, he transformed the beast into a peaceful herbivore.

Despite this transformation, the Banyoles Monster is said to still live deep beneath the waters of the lake.

Sources

“Banyoles monster.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 20, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banyoles_monster

Jiao

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Tradition: Chinese mythology
Alternative Names: Jiao, Jiaolong, 蛟, 潜蛟
Category: Dragon

The Myth

Jiao is a powerful aquatic creature resembling a dragon, but with shorter horns or sometimes no horns at all. It has protruding fleshy structures between and above the eyes. It is generally described as having a snake-like body and four legs, with some traditions describing it as having a dragon’s head and a snake’s body. Its voice is said to resemble the bellowing of a cow.

Jiao live in lakes, deep pools, ponds, and rivers, often hiding beneath the water or inside deep rocky caves. Those living secretly in ponds and rivers are sometimes called qianjiao, or “hidden jiao.”

Jiao are regarded as lesser beings among the dragon kind. According to one tradition, a snake can transform into a Jiao after five hundred years of cultivation, while a Jiao can transform into a dragon after another thousand years. Some traditions instead say that Jiao can become dragons after spending five hundred years hidden in cold waters and then ascend into heaven. Not every Jiao succeeds, however. Some eventually flow into the sea and become servants of the Dragon Kings, living within their underwater courts.

Jiao compete with one another for control of lakes and other bodies of water. Powerful Jiao can claim large and comfortable lakes, while weaker ones are forced to inhabit smaller ponds and rivers. They are also said to eat fish, causing losses for fishermen. According to one belief, placing a soft-shelled turtle among a school of fish will prevent a Jiao from approaching.

Jiao have a connection to rain and water, but their powers are weaker than those of true dragons and Dragon Kings. They possess only a limited ability to summon rain clouds and cannot control water as dragons do. Their spiritual power is said to be sufficient mainly to prevent the springs within their territory from drying up.

Some traditions distinguish different members of the Jiao kind according to their horns. A one-horned Jiao is called a Qiulong, a two-horned one a Qilong, while a hornless dragon is called a Panlong. The female Jiao is traditionally associated with the Panlong.

In the Qing-dynasty novel Ba Xian De Dao Zhuan, a Jiao dragon spirit becomes an enemy of Zhang Guolao. Their conflict continues throughout the story, and the Jiao dragon spirit is eventually killed by Zhongli Quan, the Thunder God, and the Lightning Goddess. After his death, his wife He Chunying seeks revenge for her husband and becomes an opponent of the Eight Immortals.

Sources

“蛟 (Jiāo; Flood Dragon).” Chinese Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 19, 2026. https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%9B%9F

Knucker

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Tradition: English Mythology
Alternative Names: Knucker, Knucker Dragon
Category: Dragon

The Myth

The Knucker is a winged water dragon said to live in deep pools known as knuckerholes in Sussex, England. It is sometimes described as a sea serpent, with a gigantic slithering body, cold sea-serpent-like eyes, and a deadly hissing mouth.

The most famous Knucker lived at Lyminster. It caused great trouble by devouring local livestock and even villagers, so the people decided that the monster had to be killed.

In one legend, the King of Sussex offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to whoever could slay the dragon. A knight-errant accepted the challenge and killed the beast. He married the princess and settled at Lyminster. His gravestone, known as the Slayer’s Slab, was said to remain at Lyminster Church.

Another legend tells that the Knucker was defeated by a local farmer’s boy named Jim Pulk, or Jim Puttock, who was said in some versions to have come from Wick. The Mayor of Arundel had offered a reward for killing the dragon. The boy prepared a gigantic poisoned pie and transported it to the Knuckerhole on a horse and cart.

The Knucker devoured the entire offering, including the horse and cart, and eventually died from the poison. Jim returned and cut off its head. In some versions, however, Jim himself later died from the poison he had used against the dragon. This death may have been added to explain the Slayer’s Slab.

Knuckers were believed to inhabit knuckerholes in several places across Sussex, including Binsted, Lyminster, Lancing, Shoreham, and Worthing. A knuckerhole was believed to be an extraordinarily deep, round pool, sometimes considered to be bottomless.

The Lyminster knuckerhole was actually only about thirty feet deep, but local legend claimed that the villagers once tied together all six bell ropes from the church tower and lowered them into the pool without reaching its bottom.

Sources

“Knucker.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed September 19, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knucker