Dragons in the Earth
December 24, 2023 7:42 AM Subscribe
Oh, lord. Who do we petition to get the name of that last one changed?
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:03 AM on December 24, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:03 AM on December 24, 2023 [5 favorites]
"Ancient Chinese referred to unearthed dinosaur bones as dragon bones and documented them as such."
A religious studies professor once told me that, decades ago, some mainland Chinese scholars he was trying to talk to refused to discuss or even consider a "greater than human" authority because China was officially atheist. When he added, "like, the Dragon, for instance," they all nodded in agreement and became receptive.
posted by jabah at 10:17 AM on December 24, 2023
A religious studies professor once told me that, decades ago, some mainland Chinese scholars he was trying to talk to refused to discuss or even consider a "greater than human" authority because China was officially atheist. When he added, "like, the Dragon, for instance," they all nodded in agreement and became receptive.
posted by jabah at 10:17 AM on December 24, 2023
Dragon myths occur in many cultures around the world. It makes sense to me that these myths derive from dinosaur bones.
A specific example is the Taraque of Province, France, which has been celebrated since the 1100s, and looks similar to an an Ankylosaur.
I can imagine how these myths formed. They find the fossil of a huge beast and wonder, in horror, if these things are wandering around somewhere in the countryside. Stories, the kinds of stories people want to hear, are told and retold: "Yes, I saw one once and almost lost my life. But I knew what was at stake and refused to back down."
posted by eye of newt at 10:45 AM on December 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
A specific example is the Taraque of Province, France, which has been celebrated since the 1100s, and looks similar to an an Ankylosaur.
I can imagine how these myths formed. They find the fossil of a huge beast and wonder, in horror, if these things are wandering around somewhere in the countryside. Stories, the kinds of stories people want to hear, are told and retold: "Yes, I saw one once and almost lost my life. But I knew what was at stake and refused to back down."
posted by eye of newt at 10:45 AM on December 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
i don't see a conflict with believing there can be beings wiser/more powerful than humans and NOT believing there can be INFINITELY wise/powerful beings.
posted by Clowder of bats at 10:59 AM on December 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Clowder of bats at 10:59 AM on December 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
Is there some kind of ongoing contest to design the most unusable website in iOS/Safari?
posted by gottabefunky at 11:06 AM on December 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by gottabefunky at 11:06 AM on December 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
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(yes I just rewatched Dragonslayer for the first time in a while. one of my favorite movies, and one of cinema's great dragons. no CGI in this bitch!)
this is very cool! those pteros are huge and were probably incredibly terrifying. I love dragons! I am a girl with a dragon tattoo. the artistic renderings are nicely done.
posted by supermedusa at 8:50 AM on December 24, 2023