Explain why dragons are creatures universally feared.

Destructive power

Dragons often represent a cataclysmic force, capable of causing enormous devastation just by sneezing a bit too hard. Breathing fire, their breath can reduce entire villages to ashes in a matter of seconds. Their mere passage is enough to trigger wildfires, earthquakes, or hurricanes, depending on the myths considered. This ability to trigger natural disasters at will gives them an aura of total and unpredictable destruction. Add to that their supposed penchant for sowing chaos and despair, and it's easy to understand why people generally prefer to avoid them rather than go say hello.

Terrifying appearance

What makes the dragon terrifying is primarily its appearance, which combines very unsettling animal-like features. With its gigantic claws worthy of the most fearsome predators, its large mouth filled with sharp fangs, and its thick, rough scales reminiscent of dangerous snakes or reptiles, it evokes both raw physical strength and deadly agility. Most legends emphasize the dragon's piercing eyes, often described as fiery and penetrating, capable of petrifying with fear anyone who looks directly at them. Add to this its immense wings resembling those of bats pushed to the extreme, which enhance the menacing aspect of this creature often imagined lurking in the heart of dark or remote places. Different cultural traditions converge on the idea that the very appearance of the dragon makes it instinctively frightening and thus symbolizes our deepest ancestral fears.

Myths and legends

One crazy thing about dragons is that they appear in the myths of almost every culture in the world, even though these peoples may not have had contact with each other. In ancient Greece, for example, you had the dragon Ladon who jealously guarded the golden apples of the Garden of the Hesperides. In Asia, particularly in China, the dragon often represented a deity associated with rain, clearly powerful but not necessarily evil, unlike the Western image. And in the Middle Ages, in Europe, you can find this image of the evil dragon, like the one fought by Saint George, the absolute symbol of the battle between good and evil. No matter where they come from, these myths always make dragons impressive, but their role really varies a lot depending on the societies.

Cultural symbolism

Dragons often symbolize power, wisdom, or even the mysterious and uncontrollable forces of nature. In China, for example, the dragon represents luck, imperial authority, or success. In the West, it’s the opposite: the dragon traditionally embodied evil, greed, a threat to be defeated for peace to return. In short, they reflect completely different values depending on the culture: sometimes revered protectors, sometimes fearsome demons. It is precisely this ambivalence that makes their symbolism so universal and fascinating.

Representations in literature and cinema

Dragons are often portrayed in cinema and literature as formidable creatures embodying brute strength or menacing wisdom. Stories like The Hobbit or the series Game of Thrones depict them as intelligent, cunning, and powerful monsters capable of destroying entire cities and armies. In cinema, for example in Reign of Fire, they are seen as apocalyptic predators threatening the very existence of humanity. Even in children's animations like How to Train Your Dragon, these creatures oscillate between terrifying wild animals and fascinating companions. This varied treatment contributes to making the dragon a creature both feared and admired throughout pop culture.