St. George and the Dragon

In the city of Silene, there lived a cruel dragon that was the constant terror of the inhabitants. There weren't many brave enough to look the monster straight into its fiery eyes, nor to challenge it to a duel. The helpless, frightened community promised the beast two sheep each week so that it would spare them from its wrath and allow them to draw from the source near which the beast had its cave. However, if the sheep were not found, a girl was selected by lot to become the dragon's next victim. One day, as fate would have it, the king's daughter was drawn. The king begged to show mercy and spare the princess's life, but he failed to negotiate with the dragon. She was taken defenceless, full of fear and anxiety, to the dragon's cave, into the depths of which she stared alone, waiting for death. From the black depths of the cave, attracted by the smell of fresh blood, a scarlet reptile with fiery eyes and large fangs crawled out. When the princess was sure of death, a knight, St. George, appeared nearby. He won the fight with the beast after making the sign of the cross and saved the life of the king's daughter. The city, delighted with the knight's feat and grateful for defeating the dragon, adopted the Christian religion. Where the blood of the beast flowed after the fight, a beautiful bush full of roses grew.

 

This is my entry for Summer Joust 2024 in 12x12 vignette category.

Pine trees designed by Dan The Fan.

 

 

Done