Krakus

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Krakus is the name given to the legendary founder of Kraków, Poland.

According to the legend (as told by a Polish man in Kraków), a terrible dragon lived in a cave in Wawel hill, terrorizing the people by killing and eating anything he could find, both animals and people. The king of the land offered a reward: the man who killed the dragon would marry the beautiful princess, and he would be the next king. Many brave men fought the dragon, but all failed. It seemed that no one would ever kill the dragon. Then a young but wise shoemaker got a bright idea. He took some dead sheep and stuffed them full of hot spices mixed with sulfur. Then he left the sheep outside the dragon's cave and waited. Ever greedy, the dragon gobbled down the sheep in one bite. Becoming very thirsty, the dragon ran to the Vistula River, where it drank and drank until its stomach exploded and it died. Krakus married the princess and built a castle on Wawel Hill. A city soon grew up around the castle. The people named the city Kraków, in honor of their wise and brave king.

Today Wawel Castle stands on Wawel Hill in the heart of Kraków, and just outside the castle stands a metal dragon statue in honor of the beloved legend of Krakus and the dragon. Every few minutes, the dragon statue spews out real fire, to the delight of all who come to see the castle! Children especially love to see the dragon of Wawel and hear the story of the brave young shoemaker who outsmarted the ferocious dragon.

Eirne 12:44, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Another version of the legend is as follows: Once upon a time (around the 7th century) there lived a wise and strong prince by the name of Krakus. Krakus built a castle on a hill named Wawel, which sits on the banks of the Vistula River, and named the town after himself (Kraków). This existence would've been splendorous were it not for a dragon who lived in a cave under the castle. This fire breathing loathsome and fearsome creature fed upon the citizens' and princes' cattle and sheep and was fond of humans as well, especially fair maidens. The wise prince Krakus ordered a sheep's hide to be filled with sulfuric acid and was set on fire and hurled towared the beasts' cave. The voracious beast devoured to sheepskin, sulfuric acid and all in one large gulp. Realizing the burn he felt in its stomach the dragon rushed over to the river and drank and drank and drank, finally exploding giving the citizens of Krakow a glorious fireworks display. The town was saved from this terrible beast, the dragon became the symbol of the city.