
Lindworm
Also known as: Lindorm, Linnorm, Landwurm
A legless or two-legged dragon slithers through Scandinavian and Germanic legends as a creature of both terror and strange wisdom.
Norse sagas, pre-1000 CE
Scandinavia and Germanic regions
Varies wildly, 10 feet to enormous
Aggressive, territorial, guards treasure
Folklore tradition, no modern sightings
The Lore
The Lindworm is a serpentine dragon from Scandinavian and Germanic tradition, typically described as having no legs or only two front legs. Unlike winged dragons, it is earthbound and often associated with burial mounds, treasure hoards, and cursed royal bloodlines. Historical accounts from medieval Sweden describe lindworms spotted crossing roads or coiled around churches. The creature appears in heraldry across Northern Europe and features prominently in the fairy tale of Prince Lindworm, where a cursed prince must be uncoiled from his serpent skin.
Body Type
Folklore Origin
Media Appearances
- Prince Lindworm (fairy tale)
- God of War (video game series)
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