Wyverns are majestic and dangerous bird-like creatures that can shoot lightning from their mouths.
Mythology[]
Wyverns are winged dragons that have only two legs.
While in various forms, the wyvern is important in heraldry, in which it appears as a mascot in schools and athletic teams (mainly in the US, UK, and Canada). It is also popular in various folklore and mythology and they are currently used in Fantasy literature, shows, and video games. Wyverns are rarely fire-breathing, unlike the more common four-legged dragons.
The word Wyvern is a development of Middle English wyver, from Anglo-French wivre (cf. French guivre and vouvire), which originates from the Latin word vīpera, which means "viper", "adder", or "asp". In the 17th Century, the concluding "–n" was added to the word by officer at arms John Guillim in 1610 when he describes the "wiverne" as a creature that "partake[s]" of a Fowle in the Wings and Legs... and doth resemble a Serpent in the Taile". In 1682, English officer of arms John Gibbon emphasized that it "hath but two legs".
God of War Ragnarök[]
Prior to the Aesir occupation of Vanaheim, Wyverns were tamed by the Vanir as mounts, in which they formed close bonds with their riders, which usually takes a significant amount of trust. When the Einherjar, the forces of Asgard, established a military occupation in the realm of the Vanir, following Freya's marriage to Odin, they made the choice to enslave all the Wyverns, while a few were able to escape.
They can be found in both Vanaheim and Asgard.
Trivia[]
- Despite looking like dragons, according to Mimir, they are not related to actual dragons, since they lack forelegs of their own.
- Wyverns strangely resemble winged and feathered dinosaurs and they have a dinosaur-like appearance.
- The feet of a Wyvern bears an identical resemblance to the feet of a Dromeosaur.
Gallery[]
