tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-629061224332673795.post2823335695562455855..comments2023-07-15T05:32:20.508-07:00Comments on Frontiers of Zoology: Tarasque and MedcrocUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-629061224332673795.post-21486375573932686152012-03-09T12:41:12.631-08:002012-03-09T12:41:12.631-08:00Thank you Phil; yes that was my idea, too. Several...Thank you Phil; yes that was my idea, too. Several "Dragons" mentioned as being found in Turkey, Greece and Sicily in Classical times seem to have been crocodiles-but they weren't the <b>ONLY</b> things being called "Dragons" at the time, of course. I think there was one report of a "Dragon" that would haul out on shore at Greece and then sit there with its mouth open. I'd have to look up the source on that, though.<br /><br />Best Wishes, Dale D.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-629061224332673795.post-15326989933088678702012-03-09T11:51:41.976-08:002012-03-09T11:51:41.976-08:00Hmm, while looking up a reference to the Rhodian C...Hmm, while looking up a reference to the Rhodian Crocodile, I came up with this quote that might relate from http://www.theoi.com/Ther/DrakonesRhodioi.html:<br /><br />THE DRAKONES RHODIOI were Dragons or giant serpents which ravaged the island of Rhodes. They were slain by the hero Phorbas who along with the greatest of the serpents was placed amongst the stars as the Constellation Ophiochus.<br /><br />Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 5. 58. 4 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) :<br /> "When the land of Rhodes brought forth huge Serpents, it came to pass that the Serpents caused the death of many of the natives; consequently the survivors dispatched men to Delos to inquire of the god how they might rid themselves of the evil. And Apollon commanded them to receive Phorbas [of Thessalia] and his companions and to colonize together with them the island of Rhodes . . . and the Rhodians summoned him as the oracle had commanded and gave him a share in the land. And Phorbas destroyed the Serpents, and after he had freed the island of its fear he made his home in Rhodes."<br /><br />So, you have a definite reference to one large crocodile terrorizing cattle in the 14th century on this mediterranean island, and then in the 1st century BC there is a legend of the same island having been overrun with dangerous reptiles as well. I think there is some pretty good evidence to infer your theory is right sir.philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08513876927710154838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-629061224332673795.post-7916803694454205892012-03-09T11:41:29.835-08:002012-03-09T11:41:29.835-08:00Very interesting as always. It reminds me of the ...Very interesting as always. It reminds me of the dragon of Rhodes recounted here in wikipedia<br /><br /> Dieudonné de Gozon was the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes (1346-1353). He was born to a noble family in Languedoc, France. He carried the nickname Extinctor Draconis which means "The Dragon Slayer" in Latin.<br /> <br />[edit] The Dragon of Rhodes<br /> <br />It is so told that there was a dragon in the island of Rhodes, Greece, hiding in the local swamp, and killing the cattle of the local farmers. Despite the orders of the previous Grand Master to not disturb the beast, Gozon slew the dragon, and hung the head on one of the seven gates of the medieval town of Rhodes. The head was on display until a hundred years ago, when a biologist pointed out it was the skull of a large crocodile<br /><br /><br />If recall correctly, the knight had trained a pack of dogs to help him take the creature down. Maybe it was one of the Mediterranean crocs?philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08513876927710154838noreply@blogger.com