The Dragon Being Slain by Saint George – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 54° 58.463 W 001° 36.913
30U E 588636 N 6092818
This statue on the Newcastle Upon Tyne municipal war memorial showing Saint George slaying the dragon was used to represent victory in the Great War.
Waymark Code: WMGXYM
Location: North East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/22/2013
Views: 6
Dragons appear in the mythology of many different cultures. They are often represented as large 4 legged winged reptiles, with scaly skin and fierce claws, and a long tail.
In Chinese culture they are often seen as benevolent, but not so in European culture. To Europeans they were frightening creatures that terrorised the inhabitants of the local countryside, killing them to eat. In some legends the dragons even breathed fire.
The particular dragon that Saint George slew had its nest next to a spring that was the source of water for the inhabitants of the nearby town. In order to get water they had to move the dragon by offering it food. This started off as an offering of 2 sheep a day, but they began to run out of sheep. At this point they had to offer one sheep and one maiden, from the town who was chosen by drawing lots.
On one occasion it was the king’s daughter that was chosen and although he appealed he was forced to let his daughter go. At the same time Saint George happened to be passing and fought the dragon to save the king's daughter.
Because of the scales on a dragon’s upper body it is a formidable opponent, but does have a weakness, in that the scales do not extend underneath its wings.
Legend has it that Saint George initially wounded the dragon in the soft under part beneath the wings before finishing it off with a killing blow to the neck.
However in this version of the statue, Saint George has managed to spear the dragon through its open mouth and the tip of the spear is protruding through its neck. Saint George is portrayed riding a rearing horse with its front feet off the ground and he is holding the spear in his right hand.
Saint George is the patron saint of both England and soldiers and hence the use of him on this memorial to represent victory in the First World war. In this case because it is doubly meaningful as Saint George is also the patron saint of the Northumberland Fusiliers, the local army regiment.
The sculptor of the memorial was Charles Leonard Hartwell, and the 3.35 metre bronze statue stands on top of a 6.2 metre high stone pedestal. It was unveiled on 26th September 1923 by Field Marshall, the Earl Haig.
The dedication on the front of the memorial was later amended to include the Second World War.
Time Period: Middle Ages
Approximate Date of Epic Period: 300 AD
Epic Type: Mythical
Exhibit Type: Figure, Statue, 3D Art
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