Dragon

It was in Carolingian times that the image of the fire-breathing winged dragon was introduced. In the Middle Ages, the Christian church associated the dragon with the incarnation of the devil and later, in the High Middle Ages, images of dragons represented the fight against evil and original sin.

In European culture, dragons collect all kinds of treasures in their lair. In the many legends, stories, sagas and fairy tales these treasures are told. The dragon's lair is usually found in a cave, and its treasure is sometimes plagued by a terrible curse.

Multiple ornaments in the shape of a dragon or dragon parts were used in the Viking Age. The Viking ships received the name of Drakkar, etymon closely related to the Latin Draco.