Dinos and Mythology

[David Krentz <ddkrentz@charter.net>]

  There are many creatures throughout the various traditions of mythology that 
are 'reptilian' in nature.  Dragons, Basilisks, Wyverns , Tarasques, Ki-rin, 
etc. Also, various sea creatures like Leviathan and Jormungandr etc also seems 
to be built on the reptilian model.  I know there have been some attempts to 
link mythological creatures to fossil evidence -like the Griffon and Cyclops- 
but is it entirely reasonable to assume that some of these creatures were 
'inspired' by dinosaur bones?  One can only imagine what an ancient chinese 
farmer would think of a giant sauropod neck within close proximity of a 
theropod skull.

   D