Wyvern

From TinWiki.org

Wyvern depiction by ATS member ShatteredDark

A wyvern or wivern (derived for the Anglo-Saxon word for serpent), is a mythical winged reptilian creature, found often in medieval heraldry. Its usual blazon is statant (standing), and its origin is in Europe. It has a similar appearance to the cockatrice.

A wyvern is reportedly a dragon, with two legs and two bat-like wings and a serpents head. It is sometimes depicted with eagle's claws on the wingtips, but most heraldic depictions seem to indicate the traditional belief that the wings do not have talons. Its tail can have an arrow point tip, can be barbed like a scorpion, can be spaded, or can be serpent like.

The name wyvern has its roots in the Saxon word Wivere, meaning serpent. The French wyvern is known as the Vouivre or Wouive; both words are related to viper. The French Vouivre is portrayed with the head and upper body of a voluptuous women, with a ruby or garnet set between her eyes to help her find her way through the underworld.

They wyvern is perceived as being the most scientifically possible of the various styles of dragons, due to the fact that it only has two legs.

1 Characteristics
2 Heraldry and Symbolism
3 Cryptozoology
4 Also on TinWiki
5 External Links
6 Relevant discussion threads on AboveTopSecret.com

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Characteristics

The wyvern is said to prey upon large animals such as elephants, hippopotami, and rhinoceros. Legend tells that their tails are tipped by a venomous stinger which is used to hunt for and kill these large creatures. It is destructive, predatory, and is symbolic of pestilence. They stand 20 feet tall and are 50 feet long, making them one of the largest of the dragon species.

Their dwellings are caverns or lairs in forests. Bones and shiny objects are said to be the hallmark of these lairs. Their lairs are likely to contain items of no real value to anyone or anything but the wyvern.

Some legends also tell of the wyvern being able to breathe fire.

Another version of the wyvern is the Sea Wyvern which looks similar to the regular wyvern but has more of a fish like tail.

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Heraldry and Symbolism

In the bestiaries of the Middle Ages, the wyvern was used as an allegory of Satan, associated with war, pestilence, and sin. It was said to spread plague.

In medieval heraldry, though, they are more common and their symbolism is noble. They have been depicted in heraldry on shields and banners for centuries, a sign of strength to those who bear the symbol. They also symbolize power and endurance.

The wyvern was the emblem of the rulers of Wessex.

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Cryptozoology

Some cryptozoologists have said that wyverns are evidence of surviving pterosaurs, a large flying reptile thought to have gone extinct 65 million years ago. There is no evidence to prove this; it is more probable that the discovery of fossilized skeletons of extinct species led people to reconstruct their appearances, not having any reason to believe that the creatures represented by the fossils were all dead.

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