History Myth / SaintGeorge

* DragonsAreDemonic: The dragon defeated by St. George, which was terrorizing towns eating people and livestock. George claims to have defeated the creature through the power of Christ, which implies the dragon is literally of demonic origin.

The localization of the legend varies: In the Georgian version the town saved by George is called 'Lasia', but in ''Literature/TheGolden Legend'' it is 'Silene in Libya' (the identity of these places in uncertain). In the Middle East, the spot where George killed the dragon is traditionally identified as Saint George Bay near UsefulNotes/{{Beirut}}. The legend is also recognized among Muslims of the same region, some of whom postulate the dragonslayer was really the immortal Al-Khidr.

The localization of the legend varies: In the Georgian version the town saved by George is called 'Lasia', but in the ''Golden Legend'' it is 'Silene in Libya' (the identity of these places in uncertain). In the Middle East, the spot where George killed the dragon is traditionally identified as Saint George Bay near UsefulNotes/{{Beirut}}. The legend is also recognized among Muslims of the same region, some of whom postulate the dragonslayer was really the immortal Al-Khidr.

The legend of St. George, as told in ''The Golden Legend'' (13th century), can be read [[http://www.christianiconography.info/goldenLegend/george.htm here]].

* KnightErrant: There is no explanation on what business brought St. George to the town, making St. George the TropeMaker of a travelling knight that helps out people he meets by accident along the road.

* DamselInDistress: Downplayed--the princess is delivered to the dragon and saved by St. George, but she is not [[ChainedToARock physically constrained]], does not ask for help, and there is no [[RescueRomance romance between the princess and George]], nor does the king [[StandardHeroReward offer her up in marriage.]]

The history behind the legend is murky. While it is plausible enough that a Christian called George was executed in 303, all other details depend on the source: The widely accepted versions of the legend place George's martyrdom either in Lydda, Palestine[[note]]Today Lod in UsefulNotes/{{Israel}}[[/note]], or Nicomedia in Bithynia[[note]]Modern İzmit in UsefulNotes/{{Turkey}}[[/note]], and identify Emperor Diocletian as the responsible pagan ruler; but the earliest accounts actually place it in [[UsefulNotes/{{Iran}} Persia]], not the UsefulNotes/RomanEmpire. To some, St. George is also known as 'St. George of Cappadocia' because he was supposedly a native of that region, but other traditions have him born and raised in Palestine.

The popular legend of ''Literature/SaintGeorgeAndTheDragon'' is only as old as the 11th century, the oldest known written version coming from UsefulNotes/GeorgiaEurope. The tale exists in a multitude of variants, but a synoptic plot goes like this:

The popular legend of "St. George and the Dragon" is only as old as the 11th century, the oldest known written version coming from UsefulNotes/GeorgiaEurope. The tale exists in a multitude of variants, but a synoptic plot goes like this:

According to UsefulNotes/{{Christian|ity}} legend, Saint George was an officer in the Roman army who was tortured to death for his Christian faith in 303 AD. St. George has been venerated as a martyr since the 4th century especially by the Eastern Churches, but around the time of UsefulNotes/{{the Crusades}} he became even better known as the hero of a legend that depicted him as a dragonslayer. It is chiefly in his dragonslayer role that St. George was introduced to Western Europe and became the supreme {{patron saint}} of knights and soldiers, eventually making him one of the most popular saints ever.

The history behind the legend is murky. While it is plausible enough that a Christian called George was executed in 303, all other details depend on the source: The widely accepted versions of the legend place George's martyrdom either in Lydda, Palestine[[note]]Today Lod in UsefulNotes/{{Israel}}[[/note]], or Nicomedia in Bithynia[[note]]Modern İzmit in UsefulNotes/{{Turkey}}[[/note]], and identify Emperor Diocletian as the responsible pagan ruler; but the earliest accounts actually place it in [[UsefulNote/{{Iran}} Persia]], not the UsefulNotes/RomanEmpire. To some, St. George is also known as 'St. George of Cappadocia' because he was supposedly a native of that region, but other traditions have him born and raised in Palestine.

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: St. George's dragon is an amphibious creature that lives in a lake and exudes a poisonous breath, with a healthy appetite for livestock and humans. It is often depicted as quite small, to the point that in many paintings George does little more than finish it off after his horse tramples it.

The popular legend of "St. George and the Dragon" is only as old as the 11th century, the oldest known written version coming from UsefulNotes/{{Georgia}}. The tale exists in a multitude of variants, but a synoptic plot goes like this:

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: St. George's dragon is an amphibious creature that lives in a lake and exudes a poisonous breath, with a healthy appetite for lifestock and humans.

* DamselInDistress: Downplayed--the princess is delivered to the dragon and saved by St. George, but she is not [[ChainedToARock physically constrained]], does not ask for help, and there is no romance between the princess and George, nor does the king [[StandardHeroReward offer her up in marriage.]]