What are 'flying serpents / dragons' and what connection, if any, are there to humans?

The Egyptian tales of flying snakes captured the curiosity of the Greek historian Herodotus (ca 460 BC). These winged drakontes were said to live under frankincense (Boswellia) trees in the Arabian Desert. To gather the incense, the Arabians burned styrax (resin of the Liquidambar tree) because the smoke drove the winged snakes away. Herodotus described the flying reptiles as small with variegated markings, shaped like a water snake but with wing like membranes, like bat wings.

Drakon: Dragon Myth and Serpent Cult in the Greek and Roman Worlds describes humanoids (Titans) that repeatedly interact with drakontes, both fighting against them and indeed alongside them, as masters and mistresses of them. Amongst males Apollo and Heracles are noteworthy in this regard, but it is the females that stand out more, notably Athene and Medea. Read more...