Editing European dragon (section)

====Zmeys ====
[[File:Змей Горыныч.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Zmey Gorynych]], by [[Victor Vasnetsov]]]]
{{Main|Slavic dragon}}

Dragon-like creatures of [[Slavic mythology]] hold mixed temperaments towards humans. For example, Drakons (дракон, змей, ламя, (х)ала; dracon, zmey, lamya, ala) in [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]] mythology are either male or female, and each gender has a different view of mankind. The female dragon and male dragon, often seen as sister and brother, represent different forces of [[agriculture]]. The female dragon represents harsh weather and is the destroyer of crops, the hater of mankind, and is locked in a never-ending battle with her brother. The male dragon protects the humans' crops from destruction and is generally benevolent to humanity. Fire and water play major roles in Bulgarian dragon lore: the female has water characteristics, while the male is usually a fiery creature. In Bulgarian legend, The drakons are three-headed, winged beings with snake's bodies.

In [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]], [[Russians|Russian]], [[Belarusians|Belarusian]], [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]], [[Bosniaks|Bosnian]], [[Serbs|Serbian]], and [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|Macedonian]] lore, the dragon-like creature, or "змей" ({{Langx|bg|Змей}}), ''[[zmey]]'' ({{Langx|ru|Змей}}), ''smok'' ({{Langx|be|Цмок}}), [[Slavic dragon|''zmiy'']] ({{Langx|uk|Змій}}), ([[Bosniaks|Bosnian]] zmaj), ({{Langx|sr|змај or zmaj}}), ''zmej'' ({{Langx|mk|змеј}}), is generally an evil, four-legged beast with few, if any, redeeming qualities. ''Zmeys'' are intelligent, but not greatly so, often demanding tribute from villages or small towns in the form of [[maiden]]s (for food), or [[gold]]. Their number of heads ranges from one to seven or sometimes even more, with three- and seven-headed Zmeys being most commonly cited. The heads also regrow if cut off, unless the neck is "treated" with fire (similar to the hydra in Greek mythology). [[Zmey#Blood|Zmey blood]] is so poisonous that Earth itself will refuse to absorb it. In Bulgarian mythology these "dragons" are sometimes good, opposing the evil Lamya /ламя/, a beast similar to the ''zmey''.