Inmythology andfantasy, afire-breathing monster is amonster with the ability to shootfire from itsmouth. The concept of a fire-breathing monster is shared by various mythological traditions throughout history, and is also a common element of monsters in the fantasy genre, especiallydragons, which are almost always given the ability to shoot fire, or some other type of breath-based attack. The origins of this power may vary, frommagic to a biological explanation similar to an organicflamethrower.
One of the first monsters described as fire-breathing was theChimera ofGreco-Roman mythology,[1] although these types of monsters were comparatively rare in such mythology, with limited other examples including theKhalkotauroi, the brazen-hooved bulls conquered byJason inColchis, which breathed fire from their nostrils, and the cannibalisticMares of Diomedes, owned byDiomedes of Thrace, which were conquered byHeracles.[2] In addition, thegiantEnceladus was fire-breathing, with the eruptions ofMount Etna being attributed to his breath after the island ofSicily was thrown on top of him byAthena, goddess of wisdom.[3]
Cacus was described by the Romans as a monstrous, giant fire-breathing son ofVulcan, who resided in a cave beneath thePalatine Hill prior to the founding of Rome, and was killed byHercules after a tremendous battle in which the hero was attacked by the creature's fire breath.[4]
InJewish mythology, thesea serpentLeviathan, a predecessor to the concept of the dragon, is described as having the power to breathe fire. It is stated inJob 41:19–21 that "its breath kindles coals, and a flame comes out of its mouth". Chapter 11, Verse 18 of thedeuterocanonicalBook of Wisdom describes how God had the power to create fire-breathing beasts toplague the Egyptians that could scare humans to death simply by seeing them, but chose not to do so because that amount of power was unnecessary.[2]
In the Anglo-Saxonepic poemBeowulf,the dragon was the first fictional appearance of a fire-breathingEuropean dragon in its typical form, having been inspired by the evil Biblical Leviathan.[5] TheBeowulf dragon in turn directly influenced fantasy writerJ. R. R. Tolkien, aBeowulf scholar, who went on to incorporate a fire-breathing dragon inThe Hobbit in the form ofSmaug.[6]
InJapanese mythology, theYōkai sea serpentIkuchi is known for breathing fire through its nostrils, emitting smoke. Another creature from Japanese mythology calledBasan is described as a bird which breathes a brightly hued cold ghost-fire.[7]
InNorse mythology, the sea serpentJörmungandr is depicted as a fire-breathing creature, similar to a dragon, with smoke coming from its nostrils in Nordic lore.
InPhilippine mythology, the sea serpentBakunawa, known in Visayan folklore as the moon eater, is described as kindling coal and emitting flames from its mouth at night.
InNative American mythology, the sea serpentGaasyendietha is said to kindle coal and emit flames from its mouth, resembling a sea dragon.
A winged monster believed to have a body like that of a crocodile or snake and spit fire calledNinki Nanka appears in West African folklore.[8]
InMapuche religion, theTen Ten-Vilu is a giant snake god of the earth, fire, and volcanoes.[9]
The Hobbit andThe Lord of the Rings, seminal works of fantasy fiction by J. R. R. Tolkien, prominently included powerful fire-breathing monsters, such asSmaug the dragon and theBalrog. Notably, Smaug drove thedwarves out ofErebor primarily with his fire breath and resided within the mountain for the ensuing 150 years. The demonic Balrog also uses its "flames and fireballs" to defeatGandalf, a protagonist and powerful wizard.[10]
Fire-breathing dragons in fantasy fiction have become a stereotype, therefore, numerous dragons with alternate means of attack have been depicted. This includes various forms ofelemental breath, noxious poison, and evenlaser beams.
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