Tradition / Region: Latvian Mythology
Alternate Names: —
Category: Dragon
The Myth
The Uguns pūķis appears as a fire-associated dragon connected to witches and magical activity, seen carrying goods through the night.
In the story, as Lāčplēsis follows Spīdola and enters the dark supernatural setting, dragons with tails are seen moving through the night. These dragons carry money and belongings while flying, and fiery sparks come from them as they move. They appear together with witches and other supernatural beings in the same environment.
Later, a dragon is also seen in connection with the witches’ gathering, where it is bound to a transformed object and breathes out sparks and smoke. It remains present as part of the witches’ actions and surroundings.
Sources
AILAB contributors. (n.d.). Pumpurs – Lāčplēsis (2. daļa). In AILAB, from https://web.archive.org/web/20060131100630/http://www.ailab.lv/Teksti/Senie/Pumpurs/2.dala.html
Pumpurs, A. (1888). Lāčplēsis (Bearslayer), II Song: The Bear-World’s First Heroic Deed. In Latvian national epic poetry.