Mythical Creature Jewelry

I've been a fan of these mythical creatures like dragons and unicorns, forever! The way they have elements of both our physical reality and others that transcend it in some fascinating way is just so intriguing.

They have some extra power or ability, often reflected in a physical attribute, like the unicorn's horn or the dragon's ability to breathe fire, that's beyond our normal experience. You can call them creatures of fantasy, because, yes, they are what dreams are made of!

Dragon Ship
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I've always found dragons fascinating. There's just something about their great wings and fire breathing that's so amazing! Of course I have to admit that meeting one would probably not be a good idea. That's why they had dragon slayers.

But sometimes dragons, even the fearsome fire-breathing kind, are portrayed in a more sympathetic light. Somehow I want to believe that dragons can be redeemed - assuming that there are any still in existence of course!

Meanwhile, jewelry inspired by dragons will have to do.

Celtic Dragon
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One reason I love the dragon so much is I was born in the year of the Dragon according to the Chinese zodiac. Turns out, Chinese dragons are rather different from the European version.

Unlike the Western dragon that is usually considered evil, the oriental dragon is a powerful spiritual creature, benevolent and a bringer of good fortune. In China, the dragon was often adopted by emperors as a sacred symbol of power. Now I think that's a great kind of dragon!

However, this Chinese dragon doesn't look any less fearsome than the European kind!

Dragon Motif
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Who doesn't think the unicorn is special? With all the beauty and elegance of a horse plus that one very special spiral horn the unicorn is the perfect image for many artists to express their passion.

Not only is the unicorn beautiful to look at, they are good creatures and need not be feared by humans. Well, except for bad guys who can come to a bad end if they get pierced by that magical horn! To good people the unicorn is gentle and brings healing and purification as well as beauty. That's all good!

Unicorn and Baby
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Pegasus is the flying horse that often seems to get confused with the unicorn - probably because they are both based on a horse, even a white horse! It's simple really though, unicorns have a single horn, Pegasus has wings.

Pegasus comes from Greek mythology and helped the hero Bellerophon defeat the fearsome chimera by letting him ride on his back.

Doesn't Pegasus make a stunning sight, flying through the air with those amazing wings! Now, that's an inspiration for artists for sure.

Pegasus Flying Through Clouds
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I have to admit, I have a soft spot for griffins - must be those wings! For sure they are quite dangerous looking with the fierce attributes of both the eagle and the lion.

But other times, such as when they're sitting or curled kind of like a lion (or a cat?) they look almost cute.

Bronze Griffin, Brandenburg, Germany
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The legendary phoenix symbolizes the immortality that human beings long for. It also gives us hope that when all is darkest, and we feel like we are dying, we can rise again from the ashes of our lives just like this beautiful bird.

This glorious bird with its wings outstretched rising up is a wonderful image. No wonder artists delight in it! Also, there are many beautiful pieces of jewelry that capture the inspiration of the phoenix.

The Mythical Phoenix Rising from Ashes
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The Feng Huang, also known as the Chinese phoenix, has a somewhat different nature. Unlike the Western phoenix which goes through a never-ending cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, the Feng Huang is simply immortal. It lives forever and never dies.

The Feng Huang is not just famed for its immortality, it is also a sacred bird. It is the most beautiful of all the birds in China, gloriously adorned in all the colors of the rainbow. What a great image for beautiful jewelry!

Fong Hoang, The Chinese Phoenix
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Fairies, or faeries, are probably the most popular mythical creatures, being small and humanoid and rather active. Sometimes helpful but often mischievous there are numerous tales of encounters with these little creatures.

Fairies are often depicted as beautiful young women with gorgeous wings. Although, according to legend, they are often quite different - they did not always have wings as they could fly by magic for instance.

Artists of course have tended to depict them with wings - that's probably the easiest way to show they can fly! And fairy jewelry certainly benefits from the beautiful wings!

All Hallows Eve - H D Johnson
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I have to admit that I haven't always been a great fan of mermaids. I know they're kind of mysterious, beautiful, and often sing sweetly. Still, maybe there's something about being part fish that is not entirely appealing!

But when it comes to jewelry that tail comes into its own. It can shimmer and glitter, and really is quite an elegant shape. Some of these pieces even have movable tails! OK, I guess I'm sold on mermaid jewelry!

The Mermaid
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Copyright © Jennifer P. Tanabe, 2010.
This page was created on November 13, 2010 and is the property of jptanabe (Jennifer P. Tanabe) and Squidoo, LLC. Please do not copy my material!