Hall of Dragons
Ancalagon The Black
Ancalagon, also known as Ancalagon The Black was the greatest of all the dragons breed by Morgoth during the first First Age and his fire was hotter than most other dragons. Though details of his nature and powers are left vague, he led the host of winged dragons as Morgoth's last defense in the War of Wrath, an attack so fierce it drove back The Host of Valinor. This was the first the world had seen of winged dragons and for a time Morgoth's armies were advancing. Eärendil came out of he west in Vingilot, accompanied by the Eagles of Manwë, and they fought with Ancalagon and the other dragons. Eventually Eärendil was victorious, and the fall of Ancalagon
marked the end of Morgoth's final resistance.
Fafnir
Fafnir or Favnir was the son of the dwarf king Hreidmar, brother of Regin and Otr. Fafnir and Regin, both ambitious, assassinated their father and took his wealth. Nevertheless, Fafnir yearned to posses everything, and for that reason he became a dragon (Nordic symbol of greed) and disputed the gold to his brother. Regin, infuriated, sent his son, Sigurd, to kill the dragon. He was successful, but he was tempted by the same sin of that of his father and his uncle.....greed.....and for that reason he ended up killing his own father, Regin.
The Knucker
The Knucker lived in Lyminster in West Sussex. Like others of its kind it lived in a watery hole called a knucker hole. These holes were reputed to be bottomless. The water in the knucker holes never froze during winter nor evaporated during summer. The Knucker of Lyminister was able to fly and would terrorise the local countryside. It would emerge from its hole and swoop
down on livestock or villagers.
Ladon
Ladon was an ancient muti-headed Greek dragon that guarded the golden apple tree of goddess Hera. It was
killed by Herakles in order to steal the apples. He was overcome by Heracles. Fifteen long years later, Jason and the Argonauts passed by on their chthonic return journey from Colchis and heard the lament of "shining" Aigle, one of the three Hesperides, and viewed the still-twitching Ladon.
Nidhogg
Nidhogg or Nidhoggr is the Dragon, which inhabits the underworld Niflheim (dark world) in Norse mythology. The name Nidhogg has been variously translated as 'striking full of hatred' and 'dread biter'. Living by the root of Yggdrasill the World Ash, in a pit of serpents, Nidhogg feeds on the bodies of the dead at Hvergelmir (the bubbling cauldron) the spring in Niflheim which is the source of the rivers of the world. When not feeding upon the dead Nidhogg gnaws at the root of Yggdrasill and sends taunting messages to
the eagle perched in its high branches via the squirrel, Ratatosk. Ratatosk in turn brings the eagles taunts back to Nidhogg. Nidhogg rises at Ragnarok, bringing up the corpses of the dead to join battle. The dragon however survives to continue its existence in the new order that follows. Sources have suggested that Nidhogg's continued presence in the new world is to provide an evil balance to the new good.
Nithhogr
One of the most important Norse dragons is Nithhogr. This creature lives at the base of the world tree Yggdrasil and gnaws at the roots, attempting to destroy it. Nithhogr also devours the corpses of the dead. Dragons in Norse lore are usually a negative symbol, being evil bringers of destruction.
Ouroboros
Ouroboros, also spelled "Ourobouros," is usually represented as a dragon biting its own tail. This dragon is best known from Greek and Norse mythology but also appears in other traditions. The name means "tail swallower". The serpent eating its own tail has many important symbolic connotations. It can be seen as representing the unity as well as its cyclic nature. It nourishes itself by consuming itself, it is forever changing whilst always the same. The Ouroboros symbol plays an important role in alchemy, both as a symbol of the cyclic universe and as a symbol of purification. A double Ouroboros, two creatures swallowing each other, is said to stand for volatility.
Ryujin
The Japanese sea dragon Ryujin, also known as Rinjin, is the god / king of the sea. The name comes from ryu = dragon and jin = god / king. Ryujin lives in a palace under the sea known as Ryugu or the "Dragon's Court". He is attended by creatures of the sea with turtles often considered his messengers. Ryujin controls the tides using magical tidal jewels. These were used by the Empress Jingo to aid her in an invasion of Korea by beaching the enemy fleet. It is sometimes said that Ryujin can change shape into that of a human. According to one legend, in this form he was the father of Otohime, the "Luminous Jewel". The beautiful Otohime married prince Hoori and bore his children before she changed into a dragon. The first Emperor of Japan, Jimmu, was Otohime and Hoori's grandchild, thus making Ryujin an ancestor of the entire Japanese dynasty.
Uwibami
In Japanese mythology, Uwibami flew through the air, sometimes depicted with wings and sometimes without them. He was a gigantic dragon that preyed upon animals and humans, although he particularly enjoyed eating humans. His ability to fly enabled him to swoop down and capture people in his wide, gaping jaws, and it has been recorded that even a knight on horseback could be
snatched up by the dragon from above. The hero Yegara-no-Heida slew this great beast.
Whitby Wyrm
During the building of the Whitby Abbey the great fire-breathing Wyrm was disturbed from his slumber in the mountain. He attempted to destroy the town but was banished into the sea. Every seven years he returns at full moon to attempt to drag the abbey into the sea by clawing away at the cliff on which it stands.
Yofune-Nushi
According to the tale, Yofune-Nushi was a huge sea dragon. It lived in a cave in the sea, near to the coast of the Oki Islands
(Oki-shotto). Yofune-Nushi had the power to cause storms to rise, making the seas unsafe for the fishing boats on which the Oki Island archipelago depended. Yofune-Nushi craved female human flesh and demanded that every year, on the thirteenth of June, a maiden be sacrificed to it. If this was not done, Yofune-Nushi would call a huge storm that would sink the entire fishing
fleet. So the inhabitants of Oki Island sacrificed one of their young maidens every year, until a brave young lady called Tokoyo
intervened. Tokoyo volunteered to take the place of that year's sacrificial victim. When the Yofune-Nusho approached she stood tall. When it attempted to eat her, she drew out a hidden knife and slashed its eyes. As it roared and thrashed about in blind pain she was able to slit its throat and kill the creature.
(Oki-shotto). Yofune-Nushi had the power to cause storms to rise, making the seas unsafe for the fishing boats on which the Oki Island archipelago depended. Yofune-Nushi craved female human flesh and demanded that every year, on the thirteenth of June, a maiden be sacrificed to it. If this was not done, Yofune-Nushi would call a huge storm that would sink the entire fishing
fleet. So the inhabitants of Oki Island sacrificed one of their young maidens every year, until a brave young lady called Tokoyo
intervened. Tokoyo volunteered to take the place of that year's sacrificial victim. When the Yofune-Nusho approached she stood tall. When it attempted to eat her, she drew out a hidden knife and slashed its eyes. As it roared and thrashed about in blind pain she was able to slit its throat and kill the creature.
Information courtesy of Dragonorama, blackdrago, Midgard, Wikipedia, Linkmesh, & Wiki