Mystery of a dragon and a code of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Christian traditions, pagan culture, myths, medieval bestiaries influenced on medieval perception of a

dragon figure.

Sjonhem stone, 11th century.

Christianity:Dragon represents evil. Starting with the serpent as devil The Old Testament gives us images of dragons:“There was a great dragon that the Babylonians worshiped “Look!” said the king to Daniel, “you cannot deny that this is a living god, so adore it.” But Daniel answered, “I adore the Lord, my god, for he is the living God. Give me permission, O king, and I will kill this dragon without sword or club.” “I give you permission”, the king said. Then Daniel took some pitch, fat, and hair; these he boiled together and made into cakes. He put them into the mouth of the dragon and when the dragon ate them, he burst asunder. “This,” he said, “is what you worshiped” (Daniel 14, 23-27).

Seal-die 13th century, England

In pagan culture a dragon was a talisman of power and an element of decoration.

Vikings had dragon-headed vessels that were intended to scare the enemy. Vikings didn’t have a fear of a dragon.Dragons are elements of decoration in Viking’s and Anglo-Saxon arts.

Thor’s hammer amulet, 11th century. Dragon-horse ship, Anglo-Saxon manuscript 10th century.

There are 6 dragons episodes on the borders of the Bayeux Tapestry, total of 11 dragons.

Facts:

1 single images10 are in pairs (8 of them face each other)7 are in the lower panel and 4 are in the top panel

The episodes with dragons on the Bayeux Tapestry.

First two dragon episodes feature 2 dragons that breathe fire.The first dragons appear on the border when William meets Harold.

Dragon from the Bayeux Tapestry and from 12th century chapel in Italy.

The third dragon episode.One single image of a dragon.It is under a scene that depicts attack on Dol.

The forth dragon episodeThe dragons facing each look almost like birds but the knots in their tales don’t let us to mistake them to another creature.

The fifth and the sixth dragon episodes.

The fifth dragon episode features 2 dragons that face each other and breathe fire.These images are set on the borders when William comes to conquer EnglandThe sixth episode has two dragons that facing each other These dragons are set on the border in the section right before the battle of Hastings.

Are dragons decorations or the messengers of the code of the Bayeux Tapestry?

The images of dragons seem to appear along with William and Harold.

The part of the Tapestry when Harold leaves William and returns home doesn’t have any images of dragons. Then they reappear when William comes to conquer England.

The dragons on the Tapestry appear when there is some sort of interaction between Harold and William, either when they first meet, or their battles together or against each other.

Pattern of dragon images foreshadows the main story of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Episodes with dragons on the Bayeux Tapestry

1) 2 dragons, 32

2) 2 dragons, 39

3) 1dragon 48

4) 2 dragons, 57

5) 2 dragons, 102

6) 2 dragons, 135