DRAGONS or DINOSAURS ?
The Theory of Evolution proposes that organisms evolved over long periods of time from simple to complex creatures via mutations and Natural Selection. It is believed that the period of the dinosaurs (a word meaning 'Terrible Lizard') ended about 65 Million years ago and that humans or homonids arrived on the scene approximately 2.4 Million years ago. So, it is said that humans never saw dinosaurs !!
Dinosaurs were supposedly wiped out at the K-T Boundary (Cretaceous/Tertiary Boundary) by a huge asteroid which hit the Earth and left the Chicxulub crater on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is interesting to note that the K-T Boundary contains a layer of iridium, a rare earth element, that is plentiful in asteroids (apparently). Also of note is that dinosaur fossils do not seem to appear above the K-T Boundary, but other more environmentally sensitive organisms do appear both below and above the K-T Boundary e.g. Salamanders.
How then do we explain the many examples of historical records, artworks, figurines, statues, and traditions of DRAGONS from all over the world; from separate cultures?
It is obvious that humans did live with and see and often kill dinosaurs...
Dinosaurs were supposedly wiped out at the K-T Boundary (Cretaceous/Tertiary Boundary) by a huge asteroid which hit the Earth and left the Chicxulub crater on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is interesting to note that the K-T Boundary contains a layer of iridium, a rare earth element, that is plentiful in asteroids (apparently). Also of note is that dinosaur fossils do not seem to appear above the K-T Boundary, but other more environmentally sensitive organisms do appear both below and above the K-T Boundary e.g. Salamanders.
How then do we explain the many examples of historical records, artworks, figurines, statues, and traditions of DRAGONS from all over the world; from separate cultures?
It is obvious that humans did live with and see and often kill dinosaurs...
I. Image: Dragon, China.
Stegosaurus carving in Cambodia
Written Records of Dragons
Dragons in Babylon
The Catholic Bible apocryphal book called Bel and the Dragon records an addition to the Daniel in the Lion's den story of the Bible. It records that when Daniel was in Babylon and Cyrus the Persian was king, Daniel was demonstrating to the king that the Temple of Bel offering of food was consumed by priests who accessed the food via a secret passage way and following this that the Dragon kept and worshiped in Babylon was only an animal, not a god. The following is recorded regarding the Dragon: Bel and the Dragon [23-27] "There was also a great dragon, which the Babylonians revered. And the king said to Daniel, "You cannot deny that this is a living god; so worship him." Daniel said, "I will worship the Lord my God, for He is the living God. But if you, O king, will give me permission, I will slay the dragon without sword or club." The king said, "I give you permission." Then Daniel took pitch, fat, and hair, and boiled them together and made cakes, which he fed to the dragon. The dragon ate them, and burst open. And Daniel said, "see what you have been worshiping."(1)
It is interesting to note that on the famous Ishtar gate wall entrance to the city of Babylon was found massive reliefs consisting of animals including bulls and dragons (sirrush).(2) The Babylonian god Marduk is always shown in relief with a dragon at his feet. In the earliest times of Babylon the Gilgamesh Epic records the journeys of Gilgamesh and records how he killed a dragon.
The Catholic Bible apocryphal book called Bel and the Dragon records an addition to the Daniel in the Lion's den story of the Bible. It records that when Daniel was in Babylon and Cyrus the Persian was king, Daniel was demonstrating to the king that the Temple of Bel offering of food was consumed by priests who accessed the food via a secret passage way and following this that the Dragon kept and worshiped in Babylon was only an animal, not a god. The following is recorded regarding the Dragon: Bel and the Dragon [23-27] "There was also a great dragon, which the Babylonians revered. And the king said to Daniel, "You cannot deny that this is a living god; so worship him." Daniel said, "I will worship the Lord my God, for He is the living God. But if you, O king, will give me permission, I will slay the dragon without sword or club." The king said, "I give you permission." Then Daniel took pitch, fat, and hair, and boiled them together and made cakes, which he fed to the dragon. The dragon ate them, and burst open. And Daniel said, "see what you have been worshiping."(1)
It is interesting to note that on the famous Ishtar gate wall entrance to the city of Babylon was found massive reliefs consisting of animals including bulls and dragons (sirrush).(2) The Babylonian god Marduk is always shown in relief with a dragon at his feet. In the earliest times of Babylon the Gilgamesh Epic records the journeys of Gilgamesh and records how he killed a dragon.
References
1. The Apocrypha: Including Books from the Ethiopic Bible, (2009), Compiled by Joseph Lumpkin, Fifth Estate Publishers, USA, p.222.
2. Gateway of the Gods - The Rise and Fall of Babylon, (2008) Anton Gill, Quercus Publishers, p.114, 54-55.
I. Image: Dragon, China.
II. & III. Stegosaurus dinosaur carving on the wall in Ta Prohm temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia.
1. The Apocrypha: Including Books from the Ethiopic Bible, (2009), Compiled by Joseph Lumpkin, Fifth Estate Publishers, USA, p.222.
2. Gateway of the Gods - The Rise and Fall of Babylon, (2008) Anton Gill, Quercus Publishers, p.114, 54-55.
I. Image: Dragon, China.
II. & III. Stegosaurus dinosaur carving on the wall in Ta Prohm temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia.