What do dragons symbolize?

>>49876287
Usually greed or power. But they can symbolize anything really. In Eastern myth they usually symbolize wisdom, or the natural world (which is sometimes the case in Western myth as well).

Anything you want really. I once had dragons represent chaos and energy.

>>49876287
EXP.

_______ __ ___ _______

>>49876287
phat loot

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>>49876443
Post that image, if you're so great

Satan.

>>49876321
This. Though often in a Western (Christian) context, they will symbolize evil, the Devil, or paganism. Expect in these circumstances for a dragon to be referred to as a serpent or worm/wyrm.

>>49876341
Underrated post

>>49876287
In my setting, they represent the folly of mankind and the ways they wasted their talents on trivial things.

>>49876321
>I once had dragons represent chaos and energy.
Was this before or after you lived in Ancient Mesopotamia?

>>49876287
Lust

>>49876287
muh dick

>>49876287
Depends on many things. A dragon is fit to represent any of the four classical elements: fire, water, air, earth. In Norse folklore they can represent greed itself, while their association with Satan can also make them symbolize pride. In Medieval times, they also symbolized nature as opposed to the human world and how dangerous it could be. If you want to use Eastern Asian motifs, they can also be wise and benevolent. They are usually a symbol of power, especially royal/imperial power (Pendragon, the Chinese five-fingered dragon that was exclusively used by the Emperor, etc). They could also represent ancient lore, especially since many pagan sacred locations feature dragons in their local legends.

Really, it depends on what you're willing to do with them in your own setting.

They generally represent nature, in a primal sense, if man is civilisation and all that entails then they are it's counterpoint.

Of course what is meant by 'nature' depends on the story being told, sometimes that means they're wise spirits in tune with the natural world, sometimes it means they're the ultra-intelligent apex predators, sometimes they are living natural disasters.

So the real answer I suppose is: Depends on the Setting

>>49876287
In Western mythology they traditionally are a metaphor for a bad king.

Consider Beowulf who slays a dragon in order to liberate its treasure and spread it amongst his people whereas the dragon was a lazy tyrant that hoarded money for itself.

>>49876999
>>49877033
Great posts /tg/. Real Hive mind over here.

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This nigga

>>49876287
The Dragon is a chimera born of humanity's evolutionary past as an African primate. It combines the attributes of three apex predators: the python (scales, serpentine movement), the panther (feline movements and hunting prowess), and the Eagle (talons, wings, flight).

>>49880417
he was the son of the dragon, you want his father, a founding member of The Order Of The Dragon

>>49876287
Tacky elemental bullshit

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Greed and Pride in varying amounts.

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>>49881131

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>>49881152

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>>49881160

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>>49881172

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>>49881190

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>>49881205

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>>49881222

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>>49881234

>>49881255

I want more of this. Is there more of this?

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>>49876287
Power
Hedonistic levels of Laziness/Greed/Gluttony/Lust
Sexiness

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They symbolize fruit, obviously.

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>>49881899

>>49881639
>excessive pressure.jpg

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>>49881916

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>>49876287
Depends on who you ask.
In the pic, if you're being pedantic, it's probably what a certain body part of what a dragon represents (it's entirely possible they all agree on which part means what and just disagree on which is the most important 'virtue').

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>>49881931

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someone say dragon?

>>49881937
technically "aspect" not "virtue".

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Individual power at the expense of progress, cooperation, and community. Basically the opposite of civilization.

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>>49876287
Immeasurable power fueling an immeasurable greed

>>49882421
Individual and collective power go hand in hand.

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Dragons are assholes

>>49876287
The universe deciding to fuck your shit for no comprehensible reason.

loss

Dragons represent the duality of man. On one hand, they represent our fear of being eaten by a giant lizard. On the other, our desire to fuck a giant lizard.

>>49883948
He probably meant like, Nietzschean strength as opposed to strength gained from more Christian virtues like community.

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>>49876287
Helpless Sexuality

OR

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>>49876287
>>49887146
Rampant, unstoppable machinations wrapped in an urban and frankly baller as fuck disguise.

So....ambition?

>>49884978
>mouse-like tail
Uhh no. There must be some very weird mice in China

>>49876287
Sexual prowess.

>>49876287
In the west?

Greed, Lust, Wrath, Sloth, Envy, Pride, Gluttony.

Dragons are the embodiment of Satan, of natural devastation, of chaos incarnate.

In the West.

>>49876287
Dildos.

>>49876287
Many things. It depends heavily on the setting.

In my particular D&D setting they mostly represent unchecked rage and arrogance. In the setting of a book I'm writing they (extremely loosely) represent ancient civilizations in general.

>>49876287
I vaguely remember a fantasy cosmology where dragons were the elementals of the material plane.

>>49887278
>natural devastation, chaos incarnate
Those actually predate the conception of Satan.

>>49876287
Bigger dragons