The Dragon Legends of Saint George Hill

Long ago, when the hill was still called "High Hill," a fearsome dragon lived in a cave now known as the Dragon’s Lair. Each year, he demanded a beautiful maiden from the village below, threatening to destroy the entire settlement if denied. With heavy hearts, the villagers obeyed, offering up their daughters to avoid disaster.

Then, one year, the dragon stopped appearing. Curious and cautious, the villagers climbed the hill and entered the cave. There, they found the dragon—sick and dying. Instead of abandoning him, they cared for the creature, nursing him back to health. Touched by their kindness, the dragon made a promise: “Because you showed me such compassion, I will never harm you again, and I will ask for no more maidens.” From that day forward, peace reigned—the people lived in their homes, and the dragon in his cave. As the years passed, the dragon grew old and weak, until one night he breathed his last. It’s said his death turned the entire cave to ice.

But not all versions are so gentle. Some tell of a dragon who never changed, and of Saint George himself, who fought the beast after it took his beloved. Other tales speak of a humble village boy who rescued his love, or of a monk who escorted the girls to the dragon’s den. No matter the version, these legends speak of a mysterious, ancient force still lingering deep within Saint George Hill.