Hi everyone,
Warning: Poorly researched post ahead! This thread would greatly benefit from the input of someone with proficiency in Serbian or in Balkan history.
This came up originally because of the "armadillo" on f80v, but I was hesitant to post about it. I made a quick note about it on S.Bax's site, but that was even more poorly researched.
Finally I decided to post this here after reading JuergenW's paper and its discussion, as it might bring an interesting angle, and maybe, just maybe, might point towards an interchangeability of dragons and dogs in certain contexts.
So: Dragons, armadillos, or... armored dogs?
Apparently there is a medieval tradition of armored dogs used in battle.
In Serbia, these dogs were called zmaj, which is also the word for dragon. The dog breeders who trained and kept these military dogs were called zmajari (dragoneers).
My dubious source for this is here, and I don't know what the poster is quoting from: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Apparently these armored dogs appear elsewhere in Europe too, although I can't find any link to dragons there:
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Warning: Poorly researched post ahead! This thread would greatly benefit from the input of someone with proficiency in Serbian or in Balkan history.
This came up originally because of the "armadillo" on f80v, but I was hesitant to post about it. I made a quick note about it on S.Bax's site, but that was even more poorly researched.
Finally I decided to post this here after reading JuergenW's paper and its discussion, as it might bring an interesting angle, and maybe, just maybe, might point towards an interchangeability of dragons and dogs in certain contexts.
So: Dragons, armadillos, or... armored dogs?
Apparently there is a medieval tradition of armored dogs used in battle.
In Serbia, these dogs were called zmaj, which is also the word for dragon. The dog breeders who trained and kept these military dogs were called zmajari (dragoneers).
My dubious source for this is here, and I don't know what the poster is quoting from: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Apparently these armored dogs appear elsewhere in Europe too, although I can't find any link to dragons there:
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.