A dragon is a fictional fire breathing and winged animal, often featured in Fantasy fiction. In a lot of European folklore, the dragon is depicted as evil and malicious, stealing young girls and hoarding gold. Eastern dragons, however, are viewed as wise, with festivals dedicated to them. The European dragon is large and muscular. They are usually depicted as a carnivorous dinosaur-like lizard. They stand on two or four legs in most cases, but exceptions exist.
The popular western image of a dragon as winged, four-legged, and capable of breathing fire is an invention of the High Middle Ages based on a conflation of earlier dragons from different traditions. In western cultures, dragons are portrayed as monsters to be tamed or overcome, usually by saints or culture heroes, as in the popular legend of Saint George and the Dragon. They are often said to have ravenous appetites and to live in caves, where they hoard treasure.
