Dragons No Longer Dismissed As Fantasy – Global Warming Could Aide Their Emergence, Suggests Academicians
Dragons can no longer be dismissed as mere fantasy, a group of academicians have suggested. Though the sightings are rare and far in-between, the emergence and disappearance of dragons can be attributed to the changes in climate and the availability of food sources for these creatures.
Though dragons have been deeply entrenched in our history and folklore, they have always been discarded as myths or creations of an overly imaginative mind and discarded just as quickly. However, the mere fact that you can find the mention of dragons cross cultures and continents should be enough to seriously consider their existence, reported Nature on April 1.
From depictions in Ancient Greek literature and Slavic myth, to the dragons of the East or allusions in Zoroastrian scripture, the descriptions resonate with large creatures that were more magical and surreal than one would believe. It was exactly 800 years ago in 1215, the famed Magna Carta was signed, and this time around its anniversary has sparked an extensive and unprecedented investigation into the possibility of dragons actually roaming the earth, instead of just in our imaginations.
The dragons differed greatly in appearance — some lacked wings, some had multiple heads and some seemed not to breathe fire. But what was once thought to reflect local traditions can also readily be explained by speciation. A document researchers never though existed, penned by monk Godfrey of Exmouth discusses many verified aspects of English history but, crucially, offers evidence that for millennia, dragons have periodically been a scourge to civilizations. In simpler words, the monk claims dragons did exist, but chose to go back in hiding or hibernation, depending on the conditions mother earth and the civilization offered.
Research into the mention of dragons throughout the time and the variations of global climate suggests that dragons usually made their dramatic entry, marked by horrific incidents, usually when the temperatures were relatively high in the otherwise cold, dark and damp regions. Researchers point out dragons also needed knights, their favorite food. Additionally, the kings of these times hoarded a lot of gold and silver, a dragon’s preferred nesting material. In other words, the major needs for living, feeding and crucially, relaxation, were readily available to dragons, allowing populations to flourish.
Most notable era, the dragons were found in abundance, was the fourteenth century, followed by “The Great Sleep,” possibly due to the combination of decreasing temperatures and a sharp decline in the number of knights. Interestingly, “The Great Sleep” neatly coincides with what is generally referred to as the “Little Ice Age.”
Historians further point out; dragons have woken up periodically, a phenomenon referred to as ‘The Stir.” With two such incidents having taken place, they caution that the dragons may soon rise again owing to the continually rising temperatures.
PS: This has been very compelling and interesting, but it is a April Fool’s prank by Nature, one of the most respected publications. Though meant as a prank, the article does highlight a critical matter that needs urgent attention: Global warming.
[Image Credit | Nature, HDW]
