Overview: Dragons of the Deep investigates dragon myths and legends from Ireland, Scotland and across the globe, seeking to untangle their mythological threads.

Seeding folkloric tales and ancient myths with a wealth of information, this book details various dragon cults, revealing that serpent and dragon worship were indistinguishable but follow similar tropes wherever they’re found, proposing that the dragon is, perhaps, most iconically linked to the worship of water and, in turn with ancient animist worldviews.

Verdict: As I am sure we all know by now, Dragon myths appear worldwide. While varying widely in form — from serpentine river spirits to fire-breathing monsters — they are broadly categorized into Eastern (benevolent) and Western (malicious) traditions, often rooted in geological phenomena or exaggerated legends.

Growing up I was informed that the English word Dragon came from an ancient Greek word for Snake. So the odds are pretty high that any random culture is going to have a mythological creature that has some reptilian or otherwise snake-like features because snakes and reptiles are nearly everywhere people are; and we have an instinctual fear of them and/or respect for their power.

Thus, whoever first learns about the creature is going to label it a Dragon because that’s the English word for a snake-like monster. That’s how you get a Welsh monster called Dragon because it’s reptilian and a Chinese one that doesn’t resemble it in any way also called Dragon because it’s long and twisty.

Anyway, that was how it was always regaled to me growing up, but here within the most gloriously detailed, informative and wholly engrossing pages of Dragons of the Deep: Revealing the deep mystery and ancient wisdom of the Dragon by author Dave Stone, we learn so much more.

As he rightfully says, to accept even the most basic grasp of history is to embellish the world with another layer of understanding. Here Stone dutifully details the origins of celestial Dragons of divine myth along with those that featured prominently within folklore.

Encompassing the globe within his most detailed scope of detail and independently cultivated research, these fantastical creatures have been told of for centuries: but were they real ... or a product of mankind’s literary imagination?

In closing, Dragons of the Deep addresses the reasons the Dragon motif, as a uniting motif, speaks to us - not only as people borne by different tribal movements but also as a common humanity - exploring its relevance in today’s fast-paced, changing world.

About the Author - Since 2003, Dave Stone has run a small craft business carving stone. During this time, he has researched the historical and mythological subject matter from which he takes his inspiration: Celtic, Norse, Old Europe. He writes weekly articles on a Substack page and has self-published a book about Celtic Gods and Goddesses. He lives in Lochmaben, Scotland.

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