The Votadini exodus to Wales

[Alanus]

If we consider the "age" and origin of the dragon, it seems to have "flown" from the east to west-- China, Mesopotamia, and so forth. And then we find it eventually represented on Roman shields, and most likely in Germanic folklore that post-dates Roman Britain. Wolfram has noted, probably correctly, that there's a Gothic influence in the Icelandic Sagas (the Old Edda, I think). This Migration Period influence-- the Sarmatization of the Goths, then cultural transfer to the West Germans and Celts-- seems to echo in the later lore, especially Beowulf and the Hervor Saga.

The significant point is cultural exchange, in a domino "ripple" that began in far Asia, then into the Near East, so on and so forth. We hear claims (rather groundless) of dragons in Egypt, yet no illustrations of a dragon are found anywhere in Egyptian art, an art that is noted for depicting endless forms of strange beasts. And we have writers like Gardner who relate "dragon of the Island" to a non-historical "messa," or the so-called "anointed one" as "proof" of the dragon's Egyptian origin. There is no proof, Gardner is full of hot air, and we find the draco on the Orlot battle plaque and other Asian artforms, including depictions of the dragon and pearl on sword-hilts, Budhist gongs, and as the symbol of the house of Han (although without the pearl).

And all of this, either in folklore or art, points to an East-to-West influx that most likely arrived in Britain through cultures (Sarmatian and Gothic) which influenced the Roman army. I'm not sure where the original subject (the Votadini exodus to Wales) fits into all of this. :lol: David Day was so convinced of the Sarmatian influence upon the Votadini that he pictured the famous cataphract grafittio of Dura Europa as scratched upon Hadrian's Wall. :roll: