Countless cultures across the world share a common knowledge of a beast that never existed. From Apr. 22 through Nov. 4, The University of Texas at San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) will explore the origins, symbolism and cultural significance of the dragon through history in a family-friendly exhibit called "Here Be Dragons!""The dragon is a consistent image across countless cultures," said John Davis, executive director of the ITC. "Many of those cultures brought the belief in dragons with them when they came to Texas. As stories and legends travel, each culture embellishes upon them with their own beliefs. The result is a pantheon of stories that still inspire us today.”Featuring a 10-foot tall, smoke-breathing dragon, along with artifacts and depictions of dragons in various cultures, "Here Be Dragons!" provides an entertaining and educational experience that addresses the origins and symbolism of dragons. The exhibit includes stories of the Aztec feathered serpent-god Quetzalcoatl, the evolution of the Chinese imperial dragon and Texas-specific dragon stories like the Great Galveston Sea Serpent.The institute's researchers compiled many of their stories and findings into a 15-minute film entitled "Why We Believe." The video delves into the possible collective consciousness of the human race dating back to primitive man, who had to contend with predatory creatures like serpents, raptors and large cats. Adding the skeletal remains of dinosaurs, like those featured on the exhibit floor, led the human imagination to think of the creature that could have left that fossil record behind.The image of the dragon has evolved through the years, along with its function. The emblem has commonly been associated with kings and ruling parties.

In the East, the dragon was the symbol of Imperial China and a person’s position in society determined the number of talons on the dragon’s claw. Some experts believe the dragon became a symbol of political power or religion commonly associated with an old regime. Artwork depicting the archetypal hero, the dragon slayer, represented a new political power or movement with the ability to vanquish the incumbent. A similar theory holds true in Christianity, which depicts the dragon as the embodiment of evil.Dragon motifs can be found on numerous artifacts, from instruments, to weapons to clothing and banners. Modern depictions of the dragon include sports clubs and mascots, martial arts organizations, military units and dining establishments. Dragons have commonly been depicted in works of science-fiction and fantasy literature, along with movies, games and various forms of entertainment.

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Well, this is nice to see. I am surprised to see a dragon-friendly or even neutral themed presentation in Texas.
Unfortunately, Texas is a bit out of my way, so probably will not be able to attend.

If anyone knows more on the presentation, please share.

what if dragons really did exist, but instead of breathing fire, they were plainly just pterodactyls that outlived the mass extinction.

If the beast never existed, how come countless cultures accross the world share a common knowledge that it did.

A lot of people are asking the same thing when it comes to Bigfoot and UFOs/Aliens.

That is because they all exist or existed at one point in time! People are just ignorant and can't accept the reality that cool crazy things exist

didn't know texas had a dragon. would've been interesting to see the video though

It must have been HUUUUGE! Everything is bigger in Texas, or so I have been told!

I'm not going to touch that one

Hi everyone,

I'd like to share some dragon photos from a job I recently completed. I work building props and environments for theme parks, zoos, special events and the like. I was recently hired by a subcontractor to the Natural History Museum in New York City to create some large scale mythological beasts for an upcoming exhibit entitled Mythic Creatures. http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/mythiccreatures/

I've put together a blog showing the Dragon, Kraken and Roc I sculpted from rough form to finished product. Hope you enjoy. And if you geta chance DO see the show which incorporates strange specimens and fossils against fantastic interpretations. The show is in New York for just over six months and then will travel to Chicago, Atlanta, Toronto and elsewhere.

http://www.mythicreatures.blogspot.com

Thanks for posting. My favorite was the Roc, it is absolutely amazing!

Beautiful work. You have managed to bring life to these fantastic creatures.

Haha. Yeah. But we haven't found any fossils. Maybe it was too long ago, or we're just stupid and jumble the bones around I dunno.

Or maybe because, like most of the earliest legends claim, the dragons are "gods" or assistants to gods (as in Christianity), and they do not die, much like the idea of angels. Perhaps the Nessie people see today is the same Nessie St. Columba saw, and the ancient Celts before him. Many people see Nessie but despite many searches of the loch, no bones of Nessie's ancestors have been found.

Beautiful job, though the dragon seems a bit cartoonish for my tastes. It would have been interesting if you had started with the skeleton of the Baryonyx, which is surprisingly close in shape to the sterotypical dragon, and then gave it modified rib "wings" like the real Draco lizards. Then your dragon would still be a dragon, but one based on science. Giving it scales instead of a smooth body would have helped the impression as well. If it were not for the wings, I could swear this is Alley Oops pet dinosaur from the old comics.

I don't know about "dragon friendly". The exhibit makes the false claim dragons are reviled in Christianity. This indicates the "researchers" have done only the barest minimum of shoddy research, and probably never bothered to even crack a bible open to read what it really says about dragons.

Still, it is interesting to see by now two museum exhibits regarding dragons. Interest has clearly spread. Does anyone have any photos from visiting either (the Taxas or New York) exhibit?