Also called Drakoi (plural), Drakaina (female).
The tale
The drakos of Greek folk tales is less a dragon than a huge, strong, rather stupid giant, though sometimes he is a serpent. In a common tale he sits on the spring that feeds a village and lets the water flow only in return for a human victim, until a hero kills him. Other drakoi guard treasure in caves or keep captive maidens. Places with huge ancient stones were sometimes called Drakospita, dragon houses.
When they are met
- Met in folk tales
- At springs and mountain caves, where he was said to live
Staying on their good side
- None are traditional; he was defeated in tales by wit, not worship
- A candle lit while reading or retelling the story
Honouring them, or keeping safe
- Enjoy the tales of the drakos as stories of wit beating strength.
- Protect local springs and water, the thing he withheld in the stories.
What their tales teach
- Understanding Greek folk tales
- Wit over brute force
- The value of shared water
Symbols
- giant stature
- blocked spring
- treasure
- mountain cave
The name comes from the ancient drakon, serpent, but the folk figure is quite different.
Sources
- J. C. Lawson, Modern Greek Folklore and Ancient Greek Religion (1910)
- R. M. Dawkins, Modern Greek Folktales (1953)
- Charles Stewart, Demons and the Devil (1991)
More Greek folklore
- The Nymphs The spirits of spring, tree and mountain
- Medusa The Gorgon whose gaze turns flesh to stone
- Circe The enchantress of the island of Aeaea
- The Sirens The singers of the deadly shore
- Satyrs The wild revellers of Dionysus
- Kallikantzaroi The goblins of the Twelve Days
- The Neraides Fairy women of springs and hills
- Vrykolakas The restless dead of Greek villages