Cuélebre
The Cuélebre ( Asturian : Cuélebre, Cantabrian: Culebre) is a huge, winged, snake-like dragon from the Asturian and Cantabrian mythology . He lives in caves, guards treasures in them and keeps Xana , the spring nymph from the mountains of northern Spain, as a prisoner.
Even if they are immortal, the Cuélebre age . Your scales will become thick and impenetrable over time. Their weakened wings grow into the body over time. Most of the time they lie around motionless and only move to eat cattle or people. The Cuélebre can be killed by feeding it a red-hot stone or bread with baked-in pins. Its saliva is said to turn into a magical stone that can cure many diseases.
During the midsummer festival , which is a magical night in Asturian and Cantabrian folklore , brave men can defeat the Cuélebre (since its spells do not work that night), free Xana and marry and take the treasure. In some areas of Cantabria it is said that on the night of Bartholomew the monster's strength increases and it takes out all its anger on the population in revenge. When the Cuélebre gets older and bigger, it has to flee from Asturias - before its wings become unusable due to its heavy weight - and it flies to Mar Cuajada , a paradise that is said to be beyond the sea.
literature
- Theresa Bane: Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore . McFarland & Company, 2016, ISBN 978-0-7864-9505-4 , pp. 94 (English).