ragons in Arthurian Myth In truth, living, fire-breathing dragons don't occur in Arthurian legend. However, their presence is there, symbolically. Let us not forget that Arthur, like his father Uther, is often called "Pendragon," meaning "head dragon." Arthur's status as warrior-king, is indicated by this title.
Dragons are most visible in the story of Vortigern. After the betrayal of Hengist and the massacre of the British princes on the plains of Salisbury, Vortigern fled to Wales. There, on Dinas Emrys, he tried to build for himself a mighty tower. But each night, the newly laid stones would disappear. Vortigern's counsellors told him that to solve the problem, a fatherless boy must be sacrificed. His men scoured the land and finally found the fatherless boy: Merlin. When Merlin, aged eight, was brought to the tower, he told Vortigern that the tower would not stand because it's foundations lay on the den of two warring dragons; it is immediately apparent that the dragons represent two warring leaders. Excavation proves the boy Merlin to be correct, confounding Vortigerns own seers. In fact, archaeological excavation has also found a subterranean lake. The dragons are released from the ground, the white dragon kills the red one and then dies itself. While they fight, Merlin utters an amazing amount of prophesies: the two dragons represent the warring leaders, Vortigern and Aurelius Ambrosius; Vortigern, the red dragon, will be destroyed by Aurelius, the white dragon. The tower is finally completed, Merlin's life is spared, and soon Aurelius shows up and burns Vortigern alive inside his tower.
Bestiary
Dragons
