Ferocious Fire-Breathing Fiends Quiz

Answer: Perseus

Perseus is perhaps most famous for his encounter with the Medusa - the warrior was sent to retrieve the head of the Gorgon for King Polydectes of Seriphos. The very expression of the Medusa's face was said to turn anyone who looked on her to stone. After successfully capturing Medusa's head, and on his way back to the island of Seriphos, Perseus saw Andromeda chained to a rock.

He then saw King Cepheus, who told him why his daughter was chained to the rock. Perseus was enchanted by the beauty of the Princess and so made a deal with her father that if he could slay the dragon he could marry her.

The King agreed and Perseus did slay the dragon with the aid of his shoes of flight and trusty sword. After returning the shoes of flight, mask of darkness and magic pouch to the nymphs who had provided them, Perseus went back with the head of Medusa wrapped in the scaly skin of the dragon and claimed his bride.

Answer: The Dragon of Wantley

The people of the towns found the terror caused by the dragon to be intolerable and so rallied outside the hall of a knight, crying "O save us all, More of More hall". The knight responded and prepared himself for battle, putting on his armour, which was covered in spikes. Grasping his sword he set off to find the dragon. The knight then fought the beast and although intoxicated ("He drank, by the tale, six pots of ale and a quart of aqua vitae"), he managed to slay it.

The tale has also been re-told in the burlesque opera of the same name by Henry Carey and in the novel by Owen Wister. There is also a statue of the dragon which can be found above More Hall.

The author of this poem is not known.

Answer: China

The dragon in this instance entered the dreams of the people in a nearby city, telling them that it required an annual sacrifice of one girl aged 12-13. The townspeople would offer the daughters of criminals and other undesirables, but after 9 years there were few girls left and it was decided that one of the 7 daughters of a man, Li Tan, should be sacrificed.

Although Li Tan refused, his youngest daughter, Chi, volunteered to face the dragon. However, Chi was brave and she had no intention of being eaten - instead she wanted to slay the dragon.

She asked the city for their sharpest sword and a snake hunting dog to accompany her. The people laughed at Chi but did provide her with her sword and dog nonetheless. As the ferocious dragon emerged, Chi plunged the sword into the top of its jaw whilst it was distracted by the dog.

As the dragon fell, Chi retrieved the skulls of those who had fallen and returned to her village as queen.

Answer: Smaug

Upon entering Smaug's lair, Bilbo woke the sleeping beast. Although Bilbo used his ring to become invisible, Smaug was well aware of his presence due to his excellent hearing and sense of smell. Bilbo attempted to flatter the dragon, who was not fooled.

After being asked to give his name, Bilbo gave a series of clues as to his identity. This was a wise decision because, as Tolkien mentions, it is unwise to reveal your real name to a dragon and is even more unwise to flat out refuse a dragon's request. Smaug was covered by hard scales and so was seen, by many, as invulnerable.

However, during his time in Smaug's lair, Bilbo noticed a missing scale on the dragon's underbelly. Bilbo told the people of Esgaroth of this weakness, and so when the dragon next attacked the city, he was shot in this un-armoured patch with an arrow, causing the great dragon to die.

Answer: White

It is assumed that the stories of dragons were brought to Britain by the Romans during their occupation of the island.

According to the story of Mabinogian, the shrieks of the dragons "caused women to miscarry, animals to perish and plants to become barren." The two warring dragons became drunk on mead which was dug into a pit by King Lludd, and were then buried somewhere in the centre of Britain (most people say Oxford).

The red dragon remains a symbol of national pride and Welsh strength. Even a rugby team in Wales is named "the Dragons".

Answer: Fafnir

Sigurd was told by the dwarf, Regin, to slay a terrible dragon, as it guarded treasure which the warrior could claim. Sigurd took with him his father's broken sword (Gram), which Regin forged back into one. Regin had a vested interest in Sigurd killing the dragon and claiming the treasure, as his brother murdered their father to gain the wealth of the dragon. Regin now wanted the treasure all to his own. This brother's name was Fafnir. Fafnir turned himself into a dragon in order to protect his treasure.

Knowing that the underside of a dragon was far more vulnerable than the top, Sigurd hid in a pit and waited for Fafnir to walk over him. When it did, Sigurd drove his father's sword into its belly, killing it. Sigurd was then informed, literally by a little birdy, that Regin planned to kill him and take the treasure. Sigurd therefore swiftly sliced off the dwarf's head and proceeded to claim the treasure for himself.

Answer: St. George

The myth of St. George and the dragon has been told and re-told many times and there are therefore many different versions of the story.

Firstly the motivation of George to kill the dragon is highly disputed - some believe that he was saving his daughter, who was to be sacrificed to the dragon. Others claim that he killed the dragon to prove himself. Also, there is some debate over whether he actually did kill a dragon (in the myth), as some claim that he brought it into nearby cities so that the locals could have their revenge on the dragon which had terrorised them. Most, however, do say that the dragon was slain by St. George with a lance, and that the Red Cross on his armour became the banner of England.

St. George's day is celebrated on the 23rd of April.

Answer: Romania

This tale begins with Stan Bolovan inquiring as to why his wife is upset. Eventually, she reveals it is because they have no children. Stan then went to visit a wise man and begged him to give him and his wife children. He refused to listen rationally to the wise man's warning about having enough money to feed and take care of many children. On his return, Stan found his wife and 100 children and was thrilled. Stan's happiness soon turned to worry as he realised that he could not feed them all. He again set out and found a shepherd whose flock was plagued by a dragon.

He agreed that if Stan was to rid him of the dragon, he would gain a third of the flock. In a plan to scare the dragon away, Stan entered a series of challenges against it and pretended to be far more powerful than he actually was (e.g. claiming he can uproot an entire forest or carry away a whole stream).

The dragon was fooled by this front and offered Stan gold to go away. Helping Stan to carry his gold home the dragon became terrified by the site of 100 hungry children demanding dragon flesh! The dragon therefore flew away, never to return.

Answer: Apep

As with many deities, the images which depict Apep vary greatly. Only relatively recently has Apep become seen as dragon-like. Previously, Apep was seen as more similar to a snake or a crocodile. Some have described Apep as being 48 feet long and having a head made of flint.

Although its physical appearance is much debated, it is generally accepted that Apep was a representation of darkness and chaos and an evil demon that fought against light. Many tales are told about Apep and Ra (the Egyptian sun god), as Apep attacked the sun at night, every night in an attempt to cover the world in permanent darkness.

Answer: The Brothers Grimm

The dragon comes to the men as they are hiding in a cornfield after running from the army (as their pay is too low). They soon realised that they could not escape. The dragon offered to carry them to safety and give them 7 years of riches. He also informed the men that if they failed to answer a riddle after the 7 years, he would gain their souls.

The grandmother of the dragon allowed one of the three men to hide in her house and listen to their conversation. During this conversation, the devil revealed that he would serve the men a dish of dogfish, give them a spoon made of the rib of a whale and a wineglass made from a horse's hoof.

The dragon was furious that, at the end of the 7 years, the men correctly told him what dish they were eating as well what their spoons and wineglasses were made out of.

The men were then freed and allowed to enjoy their riches, which they had accumulated over the 7 years.