The Dragon

Before Game of the Thrones, dragons have been prominent emblematic and artistic in many cultures.

Symbolic of extraordinary power and energy, the great beast has appeared in many guides: often affecting a lengthy body with whipping tail, grasping or striding legs, bulging eyes, and an angry mouth from which a flickering tongue emerges.

The animal parts comprising this mythical creature vary from place to place, period to period, and even whithin one period, yet the observer usually may really distinguish a dragon from other mythological creatures. Chinese representations of dragons commonly have been regarded as the prototype of the islamic, and, especially Persian forms of dragon. In fact, in Persian art, the form of dragons are very similar to Chinese ones, with a snake-like body, surrounded with whisps of fire.

Thanks to a long history of commercial and cultural exchange, Chinese artistic styles had filtered into the workshops of courts in medieval Iran, and spread throughout the Persianate world.

Rostam and his Horse Rakch Fighting the Dragon

Reproduction by Fatmina

Watercolors and Gold on Paper

Faridun in the Guise of a dragon tests his sons

Illustrated folio from the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp,

Attributed to Aqa Mirak, Persia, Tabriz, Royal Atelier, Circa 1525-35

Persian Thor Bahram the Gor Killing the dragon

1370-1371

Moses encounters a dragon that devours all the sheep in a valley near Midian

Collection Qisas al-Anbiyâ, Approx 1580

Exent: 17,9 x 13,6 cm

WaterColors, Ink on Paper

A Qizilbash and his horse etrangles by a dragon

Leaf from the Read Persian Album

ca 1550

Extent: 37,8 x 24,1 cm

#PersianMiniature #Dragons #Mythicalcreatures