Wyvern

A Wyvern is a dragon that most recognizably has two legs as opposed to four. In modern fantasy, Wyverns are distinguished as smaller, more animalistic variants of the modern dragon that may or may not have a venomous stinger at the end of their tail.

Depictions of dragons that match the wyvern's physique have been around since Late Antiquity, although the term Wyvern would only be conceived of during the early 17th century. The term was created to distinguish four-legged dragons and two legged dragons from English and French mythology, as well as the numerous depictions of dragons with four and two legs found in bestiaries at the time, in British heraldry. Outside of British heraldry, the distinction would not become prevalent until the late 20th century when fantasy media fully separated the Dragon and Wyvern into two distinct creatures.

Etymology

The word Wyvern is derived from the Middle English wyver, a deviation of the Anglo-French wivre, which comes from the Old North French form of Old French guivre (poisonous snake), the term originating from the Latin vipera (viper).

Alternatively, Medievalist William Sawyers theorizes that the word Wyvern could've been influenced by the other meaning of guivre (written as wigre): "javelin" or "light spear". Noting the similarity between a snake and a javelin in shape and how javelins were often fletched (thus had avian features), Sawyers concludes that when light javelins fell out of favor in the Middle Ages and the usual meaning of guivre was replaced by vipere in French, the two meanings were melded together into a mythological creature not thought of before that evolved into the wyvern.

Heraldry

The wyvern was the most popular of the heraldic symbols related to dragonkind, the widespread usage of them despite their negative connotations in bestiaries being a mystery. The wyvern represents strength, protection, valor, vengeance, triumph over a demonic enemy, power, war, or pestilence depending on depiction, and was also noted to have exceptional eyesight. It is displayed frequently as a charge, and occasionally as a crest or supporter. They are usually depicted as resting on their feet and tail, the latter of which is curved. Some wyverns have also been depicted wingless and with their tails nowed, as can be found on the crest of a Lancashire family in Ffarington.

The wyvern is regarded as the personal crest of Thomas Crouchback (1278-1322), an earl of Leicester, Lancaster, and other cities who could be said to be Leicester and the county of Leicestershire's "political saint". In the present, a myriad of Wyvern monuments and relief can be found in Leicester, built with Thomas in mind.

Modern Depictions

A Wyvern as pictured in the Dracopedia book series.

Wyverns have been fully fleshed out in modern fantasy media as a separate species. As mentioned, they are typically weaker, smaller, and less intelligent in comparison to the modern dragon, overall having animalistic tendencies and serving as apex predators. Wyverns are also commonly, although not universally, associated with poison, which is usually shown through having a poisonous stinger at the end of their tail. They may or may not have a breath weapon.

Additionally, a new classification of Wyvern, the pseudowyvern, which are wyverns that use their wings as forelegs, has been been coined by fans of Monster Hunter. The term however remains primarily used only in the Monster Hunter fanbase.

Beginning in the twenty-first century, dragons with two legs as opposed to four would begin to see an upsurge in popularity, mainstream fantasy series such as Harry Potter, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Game of Thrones depicting such dragons. The reason why is uncertain, possible reasons being it being a convivence for animators or as suggested by Wikipedia, recent discoveries in paleontology. In particular, George R.R. Martian depicted his dragons with two legs in Game of Thrones in order to make them more scientifically accurate.

Cryptozoology

Wyverns are discussed among a couple of cryptozoologists such as Dale A Drinnon, with sightings of late-surviving pterosaurs being attributed to wyverns. Any sightings however can likely be traced back to large birds.

Gallery

Wyvern in Heraldry

Tigrex from Monster Hunter. An example of a pseudowvern

A Wyvern from Dungeons & Dragons. The fantasy game serves as an original contrubiter to the modern consensus of a wyvern

"Dragon Striking Down Lion" by Leonardo Da Vinci

A hypothetical flag design drawn by William Crampton of the Golden Dragon of Wessex, which would've have made it one of the first depictions of a technical Wyvern

Darkus Dragonoid from Bakugan

A Wyvern from Draconology

See Also

• Wyvern (Ark)
• Wyvern (Dragonology)
• Wyvern (Dungeons & Dragons)
• Wyvern (Once upon a Time)

External Links

• Wyvern - Wikipedia