Dragon Book - Perseus and the sea dragon

Perseus was the son of Zeus and a mortal woman. His exploits are a worthy addition to any dragon book, and any book in general.

The grandfather of Perseus received a prophecy that his grandchild would bring his downfall and so he cast the child Perseus and his mother adrift in sea inside a small chest, hoping for their death.

Thus begun the life of Perseus, one of the greatest heroes of the Greek dragon book - the Greek mythology. Perseus vanquished the gorgon Medusa and turned to stone the giant King Atlas but his rescue of Andromeda is the story that earns Perseus a place of honor among the dragon book collection.

Perseus flew over the land of Ethiopia using the winged shoes Mercury the god of messengers gave him and saw a beautiful maiden tied to a rock, jutting out to sea. Perseus flew lower and asked the maiden what was her name and why was she tied there. Perseus then talked to Andromeda's parents and learnt that the sea nymphs, angry at the pride of Andromeda's mother, sent a giant sea dragon to ravage the coast and only by sacrificing Andromeda to the sea dragon would it return to the depths whence it came.

Then, terrible and majestic, horned and scales, a crest running down its back, the great sea dragon broke the waves, its head rising above the sea's waters. It headed towards Andromeda, more and more of the dragon's great bulk rising above the sea.

Perseus swooped up and then dived down, aiming at the dragon's back, trying to avoid the monster's terrible fanged jaws. Perseus plunged his sword into the dragon's shoulder. The dragon, annoyed by this attack, rose up and dived down into the sea. The dragon started coiling and twisting in the water, blazing up like a snake to catch Perseus.

However, Perseus was too quick, flitting about on his wings, striking with his sword, trying to find a vulnerable spot between the dragon's scales. The great dragon spat a great stream of water from its nostrils and Perseus was forced to land on the beach, his wings too wet to fly.

Perseus clung to a rock projecting out to sea, holding his sword with one hand, waiting. Finally, the monster swam nearby and Perseus, hidden by the rocks, managed to attack it by surprise, killing it. The dragon does not elaborate further about the killing blow.

Dragons often come out of the depths and the one Perseus killed is no exception. It was a unique dragon and the Greek dragon book tells of no other like it.

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