Uther Pendragon - Epithet

Epithet

Uther's epithet Pendragon literally means "Chief-Dragon", but in a figurative sense, "foremost leader" or "chief of warriors". The name was misinterpreted by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the Historia to mean "dragon's head", and further misinterpreted in the Lancelot-Grail Cycle to mean "hanging dragon". According to Geoffrey and works based on his version, Uther acquired the epithet when he witnessed a portentous dragon-shaped comet, which inspired him to use dragons on his standards. According to the Grail cycle, it was Uther's older brother (elsewhere called Ambrosius Aurelianus) who saw the comet and received the name "Pendragon", Uther taking his epithet after his death.

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