Dragons of the Heartland
Dragons are a fascinating part of Cypriot folklore, depicted usually as winged creatures with thorny tails that lived in mountains, caves or towers. In an effort to explain the unexplainable, during an era when science was absent, people created myths to find an interpretation, even if it was unreal. Thus, they fabricated legends, fairy tales, and stories that have been passed down through generations by word of mouth.
Numerous places across Cyprus include the word “dragon” in their names, attesting their strong presence in the people’s imagination. In the village of Pano Pyrgos Tillirias, there is a mountain peak called “Paliomata tous Drakous” (literally means “Wrestling of the Dragons”). In Pomos village, you will find the “Cave of the Dragon”, while in Dali, there is the “Drakontospilios” (also “Cave of the Dragon”) and many more. Each of these places has a beautiful story to tell.
Read about the stories here:
Paliomata tous Drakous: On this mountain peak, two dragons – one from Tilliria and the other from Mesaoria – clashed in a battle for dominance over the island. Their fierce battle lasted for hours and in the end, the Tillirian dragon emerged victorious by grabbing the Mesaorian dragon by the jaws. His grip was so strong that the jaws remained in his hands. He hurled them across to the opposite mountain, where they struck a rock with such force that their imprint remains visible to this day. This site is known as “Saouna tziai paliosaouna” (Jaws and Old Jaws). The place where the Mesaorian dragon was buried is called “Mnimata tous drakous” (Graves of the Dragons).
Cave of the Dragon: A dragon once lived in this cave, protecting the region from ships that arrived and carried out robberies. Another version of the tale tells of a Dragon and a Dragoness who inhabited the cave, guarding the precious water. The story is also connected to the two large, pillow-shaped rocks outside the cave, said to have been served as a resting spot for the mythical couple.
Drakontospilios: Every year the dragon demanded seven young men and seven young women to devour. One year, one of the young men was the son of the village master. The master, together with other thirteen villagers, killed the dragon. Another myth says that the dragon drank all the water from the Alykos River, located to the left of the Dragon’s Cave, prompting the villagers to kill it. Yet another legend links the cave to the story of Spanos and the forty dragons.
Dragon slaying entered the narratives of Christianity as well, and from the 12th century onwards, Saint George is depicted as a dragon-slayer along with the two preeminent dragon-slaying saints: the Theodore of Tyron and Theodore Stratelates. Numerous miracles are attributed to Saint George, some of which are paradoxical and irrational. His most well-known miracle is the slaying of the Dragon, although this myth existed before him.
According to tradition, in the vicinity of Cyrene, an area in modern-day Libya, there was a dragon that guarded a spring and prevented the villagers from getting water. To appease the dragon, the villagers selected a child by lot each day and offered it as sacrifice. God took pity on them and sent Saint George to slay the dragon on a day when the chosen victim was the beautiful only daughter of the local ruler. After a terrible battle, the Saint killed the dragon and saved the beautiful maiden. Then, her father and the entire village, who were idolaters, converted to Christianity and were baptized. This miracle is attributed to the survival of an ancient custom: the offering of human sacrifices to demons believed to lurk near water sources. The folklorist Nikolaos Politis considers it as a revival of the ancient Greek myth of Perseus, who saved Andromeda from a monster.
Dragons couldn’t be missing from the Heartland of Legends route. Along this journey, 20 water fountains unfold short stories featuring dragons from the Cypriot mythology, while also learning about the history of each fountain. All you need to do is download the Dragons of the Heartland app on your phone or tablet and scan the fountain. Read more about this discovery game here.
